GRAKLE. 145 



Le Mainate, Buf. iii. 416. pi. 25. PL enl. 268. Bris. ii. 305. t. 28. f. 2. Id. Svo. i. 242. 

 Der Plauderer, oder Minor, Sch7>iid Vog. p. 48. t. 33. 

 Bontius's Indian Starling, Will. Engl. 196. pi. 38. 



Minor Grakle, Gen. Syn. ii. 455. Id. Suj). 90. Alb. ii. pi. 38. Hist. Sumatr. 98. 

 Edw. pi. 17. 



SIZE of a blackbird ; length ten inches and a half; expanse of 

 wing nineteen inches. Bill orange-colour, paler at the tip; nostrils 

 oblong, in the middle of the bill ; irides hazel ; feathers on the top of 

 the head short, like velvet, but down the middle as on the rest of the 

 body ; on each side of the head is a naked membrane, from beneath 

 each eye to the hind head, but does not unite there ; it is irregular as 

 to breadth, loose on the edges, and yellowish, varying in different 

 seasons of the year, or when the bird is angry, or pleased : the 

 general colour of the plumage is black, glossed with purple, violet, 

 and green, in different lights ; sometimes with a slight tuft at the 

 back of the neck, below the nape; on the quills a bar of white; 

 tail even at the end, consisting of twelve feathers, and is three inches 

 in length ; legs orange ; claws pale brown. 



This species inhabits various parts of the East Indies, in the Isle 

 of Hainan, and almost every Isle beyond the Ganges ; remarkable 

 for whistling, singing, and talking, more so than any Parrot, and 

 very distinctly, imitating the human speech in greater perfection than 

 any other of the feathered tribe ; its food is said to consist of 

 vegetables of all kinds, and fruits ; is particularly fond of cherries 

 and grapes, at least is greedy of them in a tame state ; it is easily 

 domesticated, and becomes very familiar.* Notwithstanding so many 

 Authors have mentioned the bird, I do not find its manners at large, 

 nidification, &c. treated of by any one. 



It is common at Java, and there called Maynoa, also Beo or 

 Mencho ; and at Sumatra, Teeong ; in India, Moina, and Pahania 



* In Sir W. Jones's Life, mention is made of the domestic and engaging Mayana, which 

 bids us good morrow at our windows. 



vol. iii. U 



