BIRDS OF UPPER PEGU. 149 



Dr. Jerdon says : " I found this neatly plumaged little Mag- 

 pie not rare at Thayetmyo in Upper Burmah. It was generally 

 seen singly, now and then in pairs ; wanders about a good deal 

 in low jungle, and feeds on grasshoppers, locusts, mantides, and 

 the like. I have seen it catching white-ants, as they issued 

 from their nest in the winged state, with considerable dexterity, 

 returning usually to the same perch. It breeds early, I imagine, 

 for I killed young birds in June. They differ from the old 

 ones in having the hood dusky ashy, instead of black. A 

 native shikaree assured me that it occasionally perched on the 

 backs of cattle to devour the insects that often infest them/'' 



683 bis.— Sturnopastor superciliaris, Blyth. 



Mr. Oates says : " I hope to be able to send you a skin soon ; 

 I have none by me now. The bird is very common at some 

 periods of the year, but it is now (1st October) two or three 

 months since I saw one."" 



Fortunately, I have other specimens from Upper Burmah, and 

 can describe the species. It is very close to our common Sturno- 

 pastor contra; it only differs in being on the average slightly 

 smaller, with slenderer tarsi and smaller feet, and withal having a 

 decidedly larger bill. The whole forehead is white or yellowish 

 white ; there is much more white above the eye than in contra ; 

 and all the feathers of the crown have a conspicuous narrow white 

 shaft stripe. I do not think that there are any other constant 

 points of difference between this species and our common Indian 

 one. 



684— Acridotheres tristis, Lm, 



Specimens from Thayetmyo appear quite identical with others 

 from various other parts of India. 



Mr. Oates says : " This species is common all the year 

 through ; it keeps near villages and houses, and only goes into 

 the jungle to feed/'' 



688 bis, — Temenuchus burmanicus, Jerdon. 



This species was first described by Dr. Jerdon from Thayetmyo, 

 (Ibis, 1862, p. 21) . He then said in regard to it : " This Mynah 

 is somewhat aberrant, being allied in its coloring and less robust 

 form to Sturnia, but approaching Sturnopastor in its red bill 

 and habits. It is a ground Mynah, of familiar habits, feeding 

 in the compounds and about villages in Upper Burmah, and 

 breeding in holes in old trees. At the pairing season it is 

 generally in pairs ; afterwards small flocks of them are seen 

 together, and many consort together in the same tree. It is 

 rather a silent bird, but has the usual Mynah-like call when it 

 takes wing. It feeds chiefly on insects." 



