ACKIDOTHEEES MELANOSTEKNUS. G71 



Obs. The Ceylonese Myna forms a closely allied race or subspecies of the Indian bird (A. tristis), differing from the 

 latter in its darker plumage, both as regards the back and flanks, and likewise in the black coloration of the centre 

 of the breast and upper border of the white abdomen, on the strength of which latter character I have established its 

 rank as an island race. Blyth first pointed out that it was darker than the Indian form, but does not seem to 

 have noticed the black breast, which is entirely different from this part in any continental specimen that I have 

 seen. Jerdon likewise remarks that it appeared to be darker. I have before me eighteen examples belonging to 

 the national collection from all parts of India, as well as from Burmah, and from Reunion and Mauritius, in 

 which islands they were acclimatized from India ; and they all have the centre of the breast somewhat paler than 

 the surrounding plumage, which varies from a pale, though sullied, isabelline to a fine russet colour. The centre 

 of the lower part of the breast is slightly pervaded with the pallid hue of the abdomen, the converse of which is 

 the case in the island bird. The only approach made to this character in any Indian specimens I have seen 

 exists in the case of two specimens from Malabar, which have the inner webs of the feathers at the centre of the 

 upper part of the breast blackish brown ; but this presents a totally different appearance to the black band 

 down the whole sternal region of the Ceylonese race. The wings of Indian examples of A. tristis vary from 

 5-3 to 6-0 inches — 5-5 inches being the usual dimension, judging from the series I have measured. 



Mr. Hume observes (loc. cit.) that he does not find the Indian birds any paler than Ceylonese ; he, however, does not 

 comment upon the dark breasts of the latter. It is possible that he may have noticed the same character in some 

 continental birds ; but as none of the specimens in the tolerably large series I have examined exhibit any further 

 tendency to it than that above noticed in the Malabar examples, the Ceylonese race, in my opinion, is a good one. 



Distribution. — This well-known bird is exceedingly abundant in the cultivated portions of Ceylon, 

 frequenting both sides of the island alike, and being as numerous in the hot districts of the north as in the 

 more humid region comprised in the south-west corner. In districts where large tracts of pasture-land or of 

 paddy cultivation prevail the Myna shows up in great numbers. About the Panadure and Bolgodde Lakes, 

 between Matale and Galle, in the Batticaloa rice-fields, in the green pastures on each side of the Virgel, and 

 in the open fields of the Jaffna peninsula it is to be seen in hundreds. But it is not always in such places 

 that it throngs, for I found it numerous in the hill-begirt lands of the western part of the Pasdun Korale 

 and in similar localities in the Galle district. It ranges into the Central Province to a considerable altitude, 

 reaching its highest limit, I believe, in the dry cool season. Mr. Forbes Laurie has seen it in Maturatta at 

 3500 feet, and in Kalebokka at 3000 feet, and I have seen it at Uva higher than either of these elevations. 



Its near ally in India is a very abundant bird and is scattered over all the low country of the empire, 

 extending into Burmah and Tenasserim. It ranges into the mountains to a considerable altitude, breeding at 

 Mussoori, and occurring in the Palanis up to 4000 feet. 



It may not be out of place to mention here that it has been successfully acclimatized in Victoria, whei'e 

 it may be seen in Melbourne frequenting the villas in the suburbs and everywhere making itself at home upon 

 the housetops. It has also been introduced, with the same result, into the Mauritius. 



Habits. — This Myna takes the place in Ceylon of the English Starling. It is one of the most familiar 

 species in the island, taking up its abode in the native husbandman's paddy-field and assiduously attending 

 on his cattle and buffaloes, about which it obtains an abundance of food, in the way of flies attracted by the 

 animals, ticks living on them, and other insects to be found about oxen. Each field has its little party of 

 half a dozen or more, which pass their time between the pastures aud the surrounding cocoanut-trees, and at 

 evening fly away towards the common roosting-place, where the Mynas, for many miles around, resort 

 with common consent to pass the night. Such a colony as this I once discovered on the shores of the 

 Bolgodde Lake ; here a large reed-bed was the nightly rendezvous, and from all points of the compass were to 

 be seen little flocks flying low and swiftly across the broad expanse of water, and settling down with much 

 chattering, fighting, and squabbling in the tall and sheltering reeds. On my firing a gun the whole rose 

 en masse, like a dark cloud, and filled the air for the moment with a booming sound. Another but a smaller 

 colony I found taking up its quarters in an isolated knoll in a paddy-field in the Pasdun Korale. In the 

 Central Province it frequents open patnas, where the cattle of the Singhalese villagers are to be found grazing, 

 and roosts in the areca- and sugar-palms .near the villages. It feeds on caterpillars and worms as much as 

 any thing else, and scratches in the ordure of cattle for grubs ; it may often be seen perched on the 

 backs of cattle and scrutinizing their skins with as much audacity as the Crow ! Its walk is erect, and its 



