58 THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 



change to the normal colour actually going on by 

 moult. Abnormalities in M3Tiah complexion, there- 

 fore, may often be set down to individual weakness 

 of constitution ; but the Mynah is a vigorous bird 

 as a rule, and given to enlarging his borders as a 

 species. Most of the Indian Empire, from Kashmir 

 to Mergui, is held by him, and he ascends the hills^ 

 up to a very temperate climate, though I was 

 assured on good authority that he had only 

 penetrated to Darjeeling within the last twenty years. 

 Outside India man has helped him to a settlement 

 in the Andamans, Australia, New Zealand, and 

 Honolulu, but he is a bird which should be introduced 

 into a new country with caution, as he is too powerful 

 and too free a breeder to be allowed to increase 

 without checks, and in the last-mentioned place has 

 rendered himself a decided nuisance by his aggressive 

 haoits towards domestic birds, for he will turn out 

 pigeons without compunction ; and the disappear- 

 ance of the pretty little white Mynah (Sturnia anda- 

 manensis) from Eoss Island in the Andamans is 

 doubtless due to his presence there, though it is 

 found on other islands and is sometimes brought for 

 sale to Calcutta. The Mynah has also wild relatives 

 here, notably the Bank Mjmah (Acridotheres 

 ginginianus) with its grey body colour and buff facings, 

 set off by a red face and orange legs and bill, and the 



