32 C) BIRDS OF INDIA. 



looking out, like the Crows, for any fragments of cooked 

 rice that may be thrown out by the side of a house, or even 

 coming into a verandah f # or that purpose ; others attend flocks of 

 cattle, which they follow while grazing, picking up the grass- 

 hoppers disturbed by their feet ; while some hunt for grain or 

 fruit. The Myna walks well, nodding his head at each step, 

 and hops occasionally. Its flight is strong, direct, and tolerably 

 quick. It has a great variety of notes, some of them pleasing 

 and musical, others harsh ; some have a resonant metallic sound. 

 One of its notes has been syllabized as praikh, praikh ; another, 

 when flying, as tivee, twee. 



The Myna is a household bird, breeding almost exclusively in 

 nooks and eaves of houses, under the roofs, in holes in walls, or 

 in pots hung out for that purpose by the natives. Mr. Smith, in 

 his Notes, says : ' ; It has several broods (luring the year." I have 

 not, however, found this to be the case in general. Hutton says 

 that at Mussoorec, where it is a summer visitant, it breeds in holes 

 in trees ; Layard says the same of it in Ceylon ; and doubtless 

 many do so also in Bengal, and in other parts of India. The es'^s 

 are four or five in number, pale bluish green. 



The Myna is very commonly caged and domesticated, and 

 becomes very tame and familiar, often following its master about 

 the house like a dog. It is a good imitator, and soon learns to 

 pick up words and sentences. It is sacred to Ram Deo, on whose 

 hand it sits. 



This bird was introduced into the Mauritius from India, to 

 destroy the grasshoppers, and is perfectly naturalized there. 



685. Acridotheres ginginianus, Latham, 



Turdus, apud Latham— Blyth, Cat. 575— Horsf., Cat. 807— 

 Pastor gregicolus, Hodgs. — P. Mahrattensis, apud Royle. — 

 Ganga maina, H — Gang salik, ox Ram salik, Ben<2\ — Bardi-maina, 

 in Nepal — Lali, Sindh — Gilyila of the Upper Provinces. 



The Bank-Myna. 



Descr. — Head, with rather short occipital crest, lores, ear-coverts, 

 and nape, glossy black ; the rest of the plumage dull cinereous or 



