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1^3 



yellow wattles which project from its head, which, with the 

 body, is of a fine velvety black. It attracts the ear not only 

 by its very loud note, but frequently by the sentences it articu- 

 lates, for it can be easily taught to speak. This is the Grackle 

 or Myna of India (Eulabes religiosa, fig. 122). There are at 

 least five species of the genus, and it is the type of a family-group 

 of Birds of about ninety-three different kinds, all of which are 



Fig. 121. 



The Eed-billed Oxpeoker {Suphaga erythrorhyncha). 



inhabitants of the Old "World. The Grackles are mainly 

 dwellers in hUl-forests, dwelling in the highest trees, living on 

 fruit, and never descending to the ground. 



This noisy bird may recall to mind our noisy and bright, 

 though very differently coloured, Jay (Garrulus glandarius) ; it 

 is the type of a large group of Birds — the family of Crows — 

 numbering about a hundred and sixty-four species, some or other 

 of which are to be found in most parts of the world. Amongst 



I 



