ETJLABES RELIGIOSA. 683 



the coronal stripes are not fluted, as in the adult, and the cheek-patch is very small. The reflections of the plumage 

 are duller than those of mature birds, and the belly is edged with greyish. 



Obs. The dimensions given of a pair of Southern Indian examples (Str. Feath. 1877, p. 407) are : — tf , length 10-0 inches, 

 expanse 18-0, whig 5-8, tail 3*0, tarsus 1-2, bill from gape l - 4 ; $ , length 10-0, wing 5-6, expanse 17*6, 

 tail 3-0, tarsus 1-2, bill from gape 1-4. The iris of the male is recorded as brown, fading out into grey. The 

 wing of a male from Travancore is given at 5 - 56 inches. Specimens which I have examined from Malabar vary 

 in the wing from 5 - 3 to 5 - 5 inches. 



This species is closely allied to the Central-Indian Myna, E. intermedia, and its allies E. javanensis and E. andama- 

 nensis. These three races are in themselves so closely allied that Mr. Hume states he is scarcely able to draw 

 the line between them when a large series is taken into consideration, and, indeed, as regards the last-named, he 

 recently remarks (Str. Feath. 1878, p. 398, B. of Tenass.) that he would not separate it from E. javanensis. E, 

 intermedia and its allies, however, differ materially from the present species in having no naked cheek-patch, and 

 in not possessing the narrow loose fold running forward on the head on each side of the occiput. It has like- 

 wise a larger bill. It replaces the Ceylon and South-Indian bird in Chota Nagpur, Sambalpur, and Eaipur. The 

 Malaccan bird, E. javanensis, has a larger bill than E. intermedia, and the Andaman race a slenderer one than the 

 Malaccan. Examples of E. javanensis in the national collection measure in the bill, from tip to gape 1*4 to 1-55 

 inch, and in height at the nostril 0-55 to 0-6; in E. andamanensis the height of the bill is barely 0-5 inch. 



Distribution. — The Southern Hill-Myna is a bird of local distribution in Ceylon, being confined to 

 particular forests, the banks of certain rivers, and the neighbourhood of tanks in the Eastern Province. It is 

 numerous on the hilly banks of the Gindurah, and in the forests of the south-western hill-district between that 

 river and Matara ; likewise in the Pasdun Korale and on the banks of the Kaluganga ; also in various 

 parts of the Western Province, such as Panadure, the forests of the Hewagam Korale (particularly the Ikadde- 

 Barawe jungle) , those of the Rayigam Korale, and the wooded ranges between Avisawella and Kurunegala. In 

 the Eastern Province I found it plentiful in the Nilgalla district and in the forests on the Friars-Hood group 

 of hills. Layard speaks of it as being common at Puttalam, and says that it extends sparingly into the 

 Kandyan province. Mr. Parker writes me that it is found in forest near Uswewa. Its distribution is some- 

 what affected by the presence of open country adjoining heavy jungle, which latter it avoids when it is unbroken; 

 this character is exemplified in its haunting the vicinity of tanks, and was particularly noticeable to me on the 

 occasion of a trip from Ratnapura to Kalatura : in the heavy forest in the centre of the Pasdun Korale it was 

 not seen ; but directly the partly open country between the villages of Moropitiya and Baduleriya was reached 

 the Black Myna made its appearance. 



I have not observed it above an altitude of 1500 feet, up to which I have found it ranging in the Bala- 

 cadua and Lunugalla passes, and likewise in the Peak forests near Gillymally. 



In Southern India, where this species is common, it appears to be more essentially a hill-bird, ranging 

 into the hills to a much higher elevation than in Ceylon. The Rev. Dr. Fairbank, for instance, records it as 

 being obtained by him between 1000 and 5000 feet in the Palani hills ; and in the Travancore hills Mr. Bour- 

 dillon says it is one of the commonest of birds, being found in equal numbers at all elevations. It is not 

 recorded from the Deccan or from the Khandala district ; but Jerdon says it is found in the forests of 

 the northern circars as far as Gumsur, extending west into the wooded portion of the Nagpore territories. 

 Mr. Ball likewise notes it from Gumsur and the northern circars. It is, according to Jerdon, most abundant in 

 the Ghats, the Wynaad, Coorg, and other elevated districts up to 3000 feet or so. 



Habits. — This showy bird frequents high jungle and forest, being especially fond of the vicinity of rivers, 

 and likewise of open clearings in the woods which are studded with tall dead trees. In the Pasdun Korale, 

 between the Maguru ganga and Kalatura, where it is common, it is found about native villages situated in 

 wooded knolls, and affects the kitool-palms there more than other trees. Like the next species, it has a habit 

 of launching itself out into the air with a shrill whistle and returning to its perch. Its note is higher than 

 that of the Hill-Myna and more metallic-sounding. It is caught and kept as a caged bird by the natives in 

 parts of the western and southern provinces, and is said by them to talk well. It usually associates in pairs, 

 except when feeding on the fruit of some favourite tree, when I have found it in small parties. It is not a 



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