IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 203 



Java and Borneo ; all the birds received into this garden have been 

 from the Andamans and Nicobars. 



Length of life in captivity. 



These birds appear to bear captivity well, as some of them lived 

 for about five years. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — As they are gregarious and extremely arboreal, a large 

 and spacious aviary is the best accommodation that can be assigned to 

 them ; they do better in company than singly or in pairs. 



Food. — Fruits and insects, but in captivity they learn to eat satoo 

 also. 



Observations on the habits of the Glossy Calornis. 



The glossy calornis appears to be an extremely noisy bird, never 

 ceasing to chatter for a minute ; it is shy and restless. 



(46) THE EOSE-COLOUEED STAELINGL 



(PASTOE EOSEUS— (Linn.) ) 



Hindi — Qolabi Myna. 



The plumage of this bird differs in colour according to the season ; 

 in spring and summer all about the head, throat and upper breast black, 

 and the upper plumage rose-colour ; feathers are thrown off during the 

 rainy season, and during the autumn and the winter the black feathers 

 of the head, &c, are tipped with buff, and the upper plumage dirty 

 rosy-brown. 



The total length of the bird is about 8J to 9 inches. Those seen 

 in captivity in Bengal have scarcely any crest, and they seldom assume 

 their proper colour. On the contrary they have been observed to lose 

 the rosy tint of their plumage after a year in captivity. 



Hob. — With the exception of Lower and Eastern Bengal, it is 

 found all over India, including the lower ranges of the Himalayas as 

 far east as Sikhim ; in Western Bengal it is known to occur in Man- 

 bhoom and adjacent places and rarely at Bankoora ; also found in 

 portions of Eastern Europe, Central and Western Asia. It is not, 

 however, common in India throughout the year. 



Length of life in captivity. 



They do not appear to thrive well in Lower Bengal ; a few speci- 

 mens have, however, been living in the garden for the last four years, 

 but so far as the colour and crest are concerned they are poor specimens. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — A large aviary is the best accommodation for these birds, 

 and it is advisable to keep a number of them together. 



