1841.] Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic Society. 649 



known in which it has been allowed to range abroad during the day, 

 with a confidence of its return at night." — C. W, Smith's MS, Notes. 



The Acridotheres Tristis is, as every body knows, one of the merriest 

 birds in India, which has caused some to wonder at the trivial name 

 given by Linnaeus. That great naturalist, however, placed it among the 

 Paradise birds, and contrasting its sombre clothing with the bril- 

 liant plumage of the rest of that genus, he gave it the name of Tristis, 

 not from its disposition, but its raiment. It is the Pastor Tristis 

 of Temminck, Franklin, and Sykes. Its locality as given by the older 

 writers, is India and the Philippine Islands. Colonel Franklin found it 

 on the banks of the Ganges, and Colonel Sykes in the Deccan. I myself 

 have seen it wherever I have been, except Darjeeling ; it most abounds 

 in Bengal. Beyond doubt it is, as Mr. Smith observes, the commonest 

 bird in India. It was imported into the Island of Bourbon to destroy 

 the grasshoppers, and was found so useful as to be especially protected 

 by the laws. Latham says, it builds twice a year, and at each time 

 lays four blue eggs. The natives of India are almost as fond of it, 

 and tame and pet it as much as they do the Parroquet. They procure 

 the young birds by placing an earthen pot in the fork of a tree, 

 the mouth being put at the side to defend it from the weather, for it to 

 breed in, and take the little ones when rather more than half- fledged. 

 The young bird is taught to speak and whistle, and soon becomes very 

 fond of his master. 



96. Acridotheres Malaharicus. — Malabar Mynha. 

 Shot by the Curator at Garden Reach, and mounted in the Museum. 

 Turdus Malaharicus. Gm. Lin. I. 815. Turt. Lin. I. 496.. 

 Malabar Grakle. Lath. Gen. Hist. III. 151. Shaw's Gen. Zool. VIL 

 471. 



Turdus Malaharicus, Steph. Shaw's Zool. X. 305. 



Acridotheres Malaharicus. Steph. Shaw's Zool. XIV. 57. 



Latham, on the authority of Dr. Buchanan, thinks this a diflferent 

 species from his Pagoda Grakle, {Acridotheres Pagodurum') ; but I sus- 

 pect there is some mistake about the matter, the differences between 

 the three birds being such as difference in sex or age would readily 

 account for. Both species (if they are distinct) are found in small 



