52 THE BIRDS OF THE LUCKNOW CIVIL DIVISION. 
some distant nightly abode. When migrating in April they 
often. depart in flocks of countless numbers. When out on 
the Volunteer Rifle Range, on the 13th April last, a flock 
passed across the range, covering its entire length of 900 
yards and extending far beyond the Butts, presenting a 
dense and zig-zag line fully 40 yards in breadth—a sight to 
see and hear. 
There is, I think, another Starling that frequents the 
Division—probably S. purpurascens; but having no specimens, 
I cannot, of course, vouch for its occurrence. 
683.—Sturnopaster contra, Lin. Native name — 
Abulka* Mynah. 
The Pied Starling is a common and permanent resident. 
It feeds in flocks in company with Mynahs, swarms in the 
vicinity of every village, and rests for the night in trees in 
the neighbourhood. In Lucknow it is very generally caged 
for its song; indeed, when taken young and brought up within 
hearing of a whistling Shama, ( Cercotrichas macrura) it imitates 
the song of that bird to perfection. It breeds very generally 
in July, never, I think, laying more than four glossy blue eggs. 
Seen at a distance its nest might pass for a shapeless bundle of 
old rags and grass, paper, &e., of which, indeed, it is generally 
constructed, in a perfect maze of twigs in babool trees, often 
in the middle of a village. In the absence of the babool, any 
tree would, however, seem to answer for its nest, if it only has 
the recommendation of being in or near a village. 
Average measurement of 13 eggs 1:09 by ‘77 inches. 
Measurement of largestege ... 1:14 ,, °80 ,, 
Measurement of smallest egg ... 1:06 ,, ‘75 ,, 
684.—Acridotheres tristis, Zin. Native name— 
Mynah. 
The Common Mynah is very abundant, particularly so in 
the vicinity of towns and villages. When taken young it is 
easily domesticated, and need never be caged, as it rarely 
abuses its freedom by flying away. 
Generally speaking, the Common Mynah, like the Crow 
(C. splendens), commences to build with the first fall of rain 
in June—early or late as the case may be—and has done 
breeding by the middle of September. It nests indiscrimi- 
nately in old ruins, verandahs, walls of houses, &c., but 
* Usually even in Oudh the bird is called “ Ablaka” from “ Ablak”=pic-bald, and 
not “ Abulka.’—ZHd. 
