OF SOME BURMESE BIRDS, II. 49 



least one white feather on the coverts. On the other hand no 

 bird with a black spurious first primary has ever a white feather 

 on the wing. Even if one could be found it would not invali- 

 date my diagnosis, for all these Mynahs are subject to albinism. 



If we take newly-moulted birds of the two species, we shall 

 find that while malabarica has the lower plumage almost a deep 

 chestnut, in nemoricola those parts are never more than a 

 palish ferruginous, tinged in the case of very old birds with 

 most beautiful rose colour. These birds feed much in long 

 grass, and the feathers below are soon worn short. Nature 

 has, however, provided them with two moults a year, and really 

 splendid specimens of nemoricola are only to be obtained about 

 March and October. 



Both these Mynahs lay in holes of trees at all heights above 

 20 feet. They, as a rule, select holes which are difficult of 

 access. The eggs are laid on a small pad of grass and leaves, 

 the nest having no defined shape. The only nest of malabarica 

 that I have actually taken contained three eggs slightly incubat- 

 ed ; this was on the 13th May. They measure '86 x *7, -8 x '7, and 

 '83 x '72. Of nemoricola I have taken two sets of eggs, one of 

 two eggs fresh, and one of three on the point of being hatched ; 

 the former on 12th May, the latter on 6th June. In size the 

 two clutches vary extraordinarily. The first two eggs measure 

 •82 x '62 and '85 x "63 ; the second lot measure 1*01 x '7, 1*0 x 

 •7, and l-0x*7. 



In both species the eggs are very glossy, and the color is the 

 same, viz., an uniform dark greenish blue, of much the same 

 tint as Acridotheres tristis. (N. and E., p. 433.) 



111.-— G-lareola orientalis, Leach. (842.) 



I have found eggs of this species from the 16th April to the 

 1st May, on which latter date some eggs were fresh, but others 

 much incubated. Three appears to be the maximum number 

 of eggs, but two only are more frequently laid. The eggs are 

 deposited on the bare ground, burnt up sandy paddy fields 

 being much frequented. No great number of birds breed to- 

 gether, nor have I ever found two nests very close to each other. 

 The finding of eggs is consequently very laborious work. 

 When disturbed, the sitting bird flies round one's head for a 

 short time and then goes away. But when the young are lying 

 hid, then the birds display great anxiety, and it is on these occa- 

 sions that the bird squats on the ground with wings outspread 

 and neck stretched out. I fancy this action is meant to coun- 

 terfeit lameness, and so draw the intruder off the scent. 



The young bird runs as soon as it is hatched. Its colour is 

 a mixed pepper and salt, the black preponderating. 



7 



