32 HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 



toiy, and feed pavtly on the ground. The eggs of all are profusely spot, 

 ted, and the nest is generally a loose structure of twigs, with a slight 

 inner casing of fine roots. 



Tree pies, (DendrociUa). — Are found throughout India in wood- 

 ed country. Their habits and nests are very similar to those of the jays, 

 and they do not migrate, but the eggs are less thickly spotted. 



Choughs, {Fregilus, Pyrrhocorax). — Are permanent residents in 

 the alpine Himalayas ; but their breeding in this country has only very 

 recently been ascertained. They nestle in holes, in rocks, and in buildinps, 

 and their eggs are similar to those of the European chough. A few 

 migrate as far south as the Punjab in the cold weather. 



Starlings, (Stumus). — Are cold weather visitants to the plains of 

 India, migrating north and west to breed. One only {S. nitens) breeds 

 within our limits in Kashmir and the extreme north-west Punjab. They 

 build in holes and lay unspotted blue eggs. 



Mynahs, {Stumopastor, Acridoiheres, Temenuchus, Pastor, Sara- 

 glossa, Eulabes). — As a rule these birds are not migratory. The 

 genus Pastor perhaps more properly belongs to the starlings. The only 

 species of Pastor that occurs here (P- roseus) is very migratory, and does 

 not breed in this country. The true mynahs {Acridotkeres, Temenuchus, 

 Stumopastor) are very domestic, and are found almost everywhere. The 

 stare (Saraglossa) is confined to the Himalayas, and the grackles {Eulabes) 

 to warm forest country. All build in holes, except the pied mynah 

 (/S. contra) which makes a conspicuous nest like a truss of hay in the 

 outer fork of a bare tree. The eggs of the rose-coloured pastor 

 (P. roseus) are not known. The true mynahs lay unspotted blue eggs. 

 But the eggs of the stare and of the grackles are all spotted. 



Weaver birds, {Ploceus). — Are highly gregarious, but not 

 migratory. They are somewhat locally distributed, and prefer wooded 

 country near long grass and water. They lay pure white eggs. 



MuniaS, {Munia, Estrelda). — Are all permanent residents in some 

 part of India. They wander a good deal in the cold weather, and frequent 

 grass jungle near water or open glades in forests. They make large 

 rough globular nests and lay pure white eggs. 



Sparrows, (Passer). — Are widely distributed and do not as a rule 

 migrate, though in the winter they associate in flocks. Their eggs are all 

 profusely spotted. 



Buntings, (Emleriza, Enspiza, Melophus) . — Are usually migratory 



