686 EULABES PTILOGENYS. 



This Myna, which has always been considered one of the finest of the Passerine forms peculiar to Ceylon, 

 was discovered by Dr. Templeton, and the specimens he obtained were transmitted to Blyth for examination 

 and description. Like the Ceylon Jay, its numbers in the hills have decreased since the districts now planted 

 in coffee have been denuded of their primeval clothing, its chief stronghold at present being the large forests in 

 the main and Peak ranges ; and should these be invaded to a great extent by the woodman's axe, the Myna will 

 no doubt betake itself much more to the low country than it has done up to the present time. It is not unlikely 

 that its presence in the low-lying forests at the foot of the Ambegamoa district may be due to the felling of 

 its native forests on those hills. The Blackbird is much oftener seen in open coffee-estates now than a few 

 vears back ; and it is evident that so great an alteration in the face of nature in the Central Province must 

 needs produce a corresponding change in the habits of many of the birds which frequent it. 



Habits. — This handsome bird frequents for the most part the tops of tall trees ; it associates in small 

 parties, and is very partial to the sides of deep ravines, lofty precipices, and overhanging woods. It is fond 

 of launching itself out into mid-air from these dizzy heights, uttering its shrill metallic-sounding whistle and loud 

 calls ; and circling round, it returns to its lofty perch on the top of some huge Doon-tree, and there continues 

 the exercise of its vocal powers. Its well-known voice consists of a piercing and not unharmonious whistle 

 repeated several times and then followed by a series of loud guttural calls, some of which resemble the syllables 

 choobke, chi-ooope ; these are, however, only uttered as call-notes while it is perched. The Myna talks well, 

 and is eagerly sought after as a caged bird, and much prized by the Kandyans as a pet, as it is extremely 

 difficult to procure from the nest. It is a restless bird, particularly towards roosting-time ; and in forests where 

 it is abundant I have often seen it roaming about in small parties, dashing down the gloomy gullies, and 

 sweeping backwards and forwards with frequent rapid descents, which cause a loud rustling sound. After 

 alighting on the tallest tree to be found, these restless parties indulge in sundry piercing whistles, and then 

 start off again on their peregrinations until a suitable spot for their night's quarters, in the foliage of some 

 vast tree, is found. 



In its habits it is, like the rest of the Crackles, entirely arboreal, and its diet is frugivorous. Among the 

 many fruits to be found in the forests of Ceylon there are none of which it is so fond as the wild cinnamon 

 and the nutmeg. The latter they swallow whole, digesting the mace from the exterior of the nut, which they 

 afterwards reject. The habit ascribed by Layard to this species of frequenting pastm - es and perching on the 

 backs of cattle probably appertains to the Common Myna {Acridotheres melanosternus) , for it is essentially an 

 arboreal bird aud docs not descend to the "round at all. 



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Nidification. — This species breeds in June, July, and August, laying its eggs in a hole in a rotten tree, or 

 in one which has been previously excavated by the Yellow-fronted Barbet or Red Woodpecker. It often 

 nests in the sugar- or kitool-palm, and in one of these trees in the Peak forest I took its eggs in the month 

 of August. There was an absence of all nest or lining at the bottom of the hole, the eggs, which were two in 

 number, being deposited on the bare wood. The female was sitting at the time, and was being brought fruit 

 and bciries by the male bird. While the eggs were being taken the birds flew round repeatedly, and settled 

 on an adjacent tree, keeping up a loud whistling. The eggs are obtuse-ended ovals, of a pale greenish-blue 

 ground-colour (one being much paler than the other), sparingly spotted with large and small spots of lilac- 

 grey, and blotched over this with a few neutral brown and sepia blots. They measure from 1*3 to 132 inch 

 in length by 096 to 0"99 in breadth. 



The figure in the Plate accompanying this article is that of a low-country female bird shot in the 

 Kuruwite Korale. 



