672 ACEIDOTHEBES MELANOSTEENTJS. 



general deportment rather stately. Its flight is steady and straight, being performed with regular beatings 

 of the wings. It lives well in confinement, and is a favourite caged bird with the natives, who teach it to 

 speak; but it is not so proficient a talker as the Grackles, nor are its ordinary notes and whistles to be 

 compared, in point of clearness or power, with those of the Glossy Mynas. It is noteworthy that in Ceylon 

 it has not the same familiar habits in dwelling about houses and in towns as its Indian ally, whose domestic 

 propensities are particularly noticeable in Australia, where it has been acclimatized. Blyth remarks that 

 this latter species mingles iu Calcutta frequently with the Crows, and that a pair not unfrequently entered his 

 sitting-room and treated him to a loud screeching s6ng. Another writer says that it is " a brisk, lively bird, 

 apt to learn words and to whistle, and becomes very attached to its master — so much so that instances are 

 known in which it has been allowed to range abroad during the clay with a confidence of its return at night." 



Concerning the Ceylon race Layard writes : — " They frequent meadows in search of worms and grubs of 

 insects, not refusing perfect Coleoptera when they come in their way ; they scratch among the ordure of cattle 

 (whence their native appellation), and scatter it far and wide over the fields, thus assisting the lazy native 

 husbandman." 



Nidification. — This species breeds in Ceylon from February until May, nesting perhaps more in 

 the month of March than in any other. It builds in holes in trees, often choosing a cocoanut-palm 

 which, has been hollowed out by a Woodpecker, and in the cavity thus formed makes a nest of grass, fibres, 

 and roots. I once found a nest in the end of a hollow arcca-palm which was the cross beam of a swing used 

 by the children of the Orphan School, Bonavista, and the noise of whose play and mirth seemed to be viewed 

 by the birds with the utmost unconcern. The eggs are from three to five in number ; they are broad ovals, 

 somewhat pointed towards the small end, and are uniform, unspotted, pale bluish or ethereal green. They 

 vary in length from 1*07 to 1*2 inch, and in breadth from O8o to 092 inch. 



Layard styles the eggs " light blue, much resembling those of the European Starling in shape, but 

 rather darker in colour." 



The figure in the Plate accompanying my article on Eulabes ptilogenys is from a specimen shot in the 

 Pasdun Korale. 



Genus PASTOE. 



Bill not so stout as in Acridotheres, compressed, slightly curved at the tip. Wings very 

 pointed; the 1st quill small, the 2nd the longest, the 3rd and 4th slightly shorter. Tail moderate 

 and even. Legs and feet stout, but not so much so as in the last genus. 



Head furnished with a long crest. Highly gregarious in habit. 



