Small Hill Mynali. 425 



services which such insectivorous birds, with endless appetites, can render to the agriculturist, 

 are palpable. 



The Rose-coloured Pastor is a pretty bird, about the size of our common Starling. The 

 head is ornamented with a tuft of jet-black feathers reaching down to the nape of the neck ; 

 the throat and part of the breast, as well as the wings and tail, are bluish or brownish-black ; 

 the rest of the body is a pale rose-colour. Unfortunately this pink tint becomes dingy in 

 confinement. 



SMALL HILL MYNAH {Gracula religiosa). Southern India. 



Stiirniis religiostis (Russ), Gracula minor, Gracula muska, Gracula Indica, Pastor musicus, Mainaius, Mainatus yavaiuis, 



Eulahes Indicus, Etclabcs rcUgiosa. German name — "Meina," or "Gemeiner Beo." 



This Mynah, sometimes called Mino, is the talking cage-bird of India and China, and 

 combines power of song with a great talent for learning tunes, and of imitating the human 

 voice. Talking or singing Mynahs are highly prized in the East, and for those specimens 

 which reach Europe sufficiently high prices are asked to make most amateurs pause. 



I once purchased a Hill Mynah, and though I have much patience in matters concerning 

 the aviary, I soon got rid of him again at any price. The appetite of these birds seems 

 insatiable, and they will feed as long as any food is left in the dish. The amount of dirt is 

 correspondingly great. To obviate over-feeding, a Mynah should be fed about three times a 

 day, in small quantities at a time, and to keep his cage tolerably clean would necessitate 

 cleaning twice a day. In the East, where servants cost little and do not grumble, such atten- 

 tion is more practicable than in Europe, and without such minute attention Mynahs will 

 become offensive or die. 



These birds may be kept on Thrushes' food, but will soon become accustomed to eat 

 almost anything. Small pieces of raw beef, plenty of ripe fruit, and a little boiled rice are 

 very good additions to their diet. 



The Hill Mynah is a little larger than a European Starling, but much stouter. His 

 plumage is black, with a white bar on the wings. The feet and the rather short beak are 

 yellow. A ring of the same tint surrounds the eye. Yellow patches on the sides of the head, 

 and collar-like appendages of bare orange-coloured skin extending from the ears backwards, 

 distinguish the Hill Mynah beyond the possibility of mistake. 



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