386 Notes on the Birds of the Sambhur Lake 8f its vicinity, 



{Acacia leucop/ilaea) which stood on a bare sandy waste with 

 no other tree within a mile and a half in any direction. 



663. — Corvus impudicus, JSodgson. 



Abundant. It breeds here_, and I have taken its eggs in July. 

 During one of my morning rides I encountered a crew interview- 

 ing a very large mantis; but the mantis struck out with its fore- 

 arm over the crowds eyes whenever the crowds head was too close^ 

 and I am glad to say that the crow had to beat a retreat.* 



674.— Dendrocitta rufa, Scop. 



Very rare. I have only seen this magpie three or four times 

 in a belt of trees near to the lake -edge at Sambhur. 



381. — Sturnus vulgaris, Z. 



This species is often met with in pairs, or sm^ll parties, dur- 

 ing the cold weather. 



684. — Acridotheres tristis, L. 



Very common. In young birds the color is paler, and the 

 feathers of the back, breast, and neck are tipped with rufescent. 

 It builds in holes in trees. I have taken the eggs in June, but I 

 saw oue taking a feather into a hole in a neem tree on the 26th 

 February last. 



685.— Acridotheres ginginianus, L. 



The bank myna is also very common. It breeds in June. 

 A number of these birds generally make their nests close toge- 

 ther in an old kutcha well. 



687. — Temenuchus pagodarum, Gm. 



Not very common. The black-headed myna breeds here, but 

 I have never taken its eggs. During the month of June I 

 saw a pair of these birds trying their very best to work their 

 way into a hole in a tree which I knew contained the well- 

 fledged young of Xantholcema limnacej)hala, and the parent 

 birds had great trouble in driving them ofi". 



I have now a live bird which was taken from the nest, and he 

 imitates king-crows, bulbuls, &c. Sitting on his perch with his 

 head a little back, the crest feathers slightly raised, and the 

 whole plumage as it were relaxed, lie keeps up an incessant 

 chattering during the live-long day. 



690.— Pastor roseus, L. 



During the cold weather, large flocks of the rose-colored star- 

 ling, accompanied by the young in the brown phase of plumage, 

 frequent the neighbourhood. 



* ? Was it llie mantis, or tlic man, tliiit put the crow to flight ? P. D. 



