FURREEDPORE, EASTERN BENGAL. 291 



were too big- for the young one to swallow, it would dash them 

 about on the masonry floor until the limbs were severed, when 

 the birds would be fed piece by piece. It is astonishing what 

 numbers of grasshoppers and caterpillars a young Mynah can 

 swallow in a day. I have known this species to use bits of snake 

 skin for the lining of its nest. 



685. — Acridotheres ginginianus, Lath. 



Males. — Length, 9*9 and 9*25 ; expanse, 15*0 and 15*75; wino-, 

 4-66 and 475 ; tail from vent, 280 and 2*83; tarsus, 1*33 and 

 1-42 ; bill from gape, 1*30 ; at front, 0*75 ; closed wings fall 

 short of end of tail, 1*33 and 1*50 ; weight, 2*87 ozs. Leo-s dull 

 orange ; feet and claws dull yellow ; irides red ; naked skin round 

 eye dull red ; mouth, inside fleshy; bill orange ; tip pale. 



Females. — Expanse, 14*60 and 150; wing, 4*54 and 4*60; 

 tail from vent, 2-33 and 2*42 ; tarsus, 1-20 and 137 ; bill from 

 gape, 116 to 1-20 ; at front 072 and 0-75 ; closed wings fall short 

 of end of tail, 1*16 and 1*25 ; weight, 2-75 to 2*87 ozs. Bill,&c, 

 same as in the male. 



Excessively common. The majority leave the district durino- 

 the cold weather. They feed in flocks, often accompanying graz- 

 ing cattle, capturing the insects that are disturbed by the herd 

 pushing through the grass. Breeds in the high perpendicular 

 banks of rivers in colonies. The tunnel is from two to four feet 

 in depth, and terminates in a small chamber which occasionally 

 has an apology of a lining of feathers and bits of snake skins. 

 The tunnels sometimes lead into one another. From two to 

 five eggs are found in each nest. 



"ao" 



686.— Acridotheres fuscus, Wagl. 



Males. — Length, 9*58 and 10; expanse, 14*50 and 15*25; 

 wing, 4*66 and 4*75 ; tail from vent, 3* and 3*08 ; tarsus, 

 1*42 and 1*45 ; bill from gape, 1*25 ; at front, 0'58 and 0*86; 

 closed wings fall short of end of tail, 2*87 and 3*25. Irides 

 yellow ; legs orange ; bill yellow and orange ; mouth, inside 

 inky black. 



Female. — Length, 9*83; expanse, 14*10; wing, 4*58; tail 

 from vent, 2*75 ; tarsus, 1*36; bill from gape, 130; at front 

 0*83 ; closed wings fall short of end of tail, 1*53. Bill, &c. 

 same as in the male. 



Pretty common, and a permanent resident. This species asso- 

 ciates with A. trislis, but is seen on trees well away from villages 

 ■which the latter rarely is. Prefers well-wooded country. On the 

 29th June 1877 I found a nest in a hole of a tC Bukain" (Melia 

 sempervirens) tree, about 12 feet off the ground. The diameter of 

 the entrance hole was two and a half inches, and inside it widened 



