204 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



Food. — Satoo, maggots, insects, fruits, and grains of various kinds ; 

 they feed much on the ground. 



Observations on the habits of the Rose-coloured Starling. 



However active they may be in their wild state and in other parts 

 of India, they appear to be rather listless and inactive in captivity 

 in Lower Bengal ; when half a dozen or more of them are living in one 

 place they generally keep together, whether on the ground or on the 

 perch, and seldom engage themselves in pursuits of pleasure or exercise ; 

 a large number of these birds have lately been acquired, they appear to 

 spend most of their time on the ground, or on the wooden stages on 

 which plants are arranged. 



(47) THE COMMON INDIAN STARLING. 



(STURNUS MENZBIEBI— (Sharpe.) ) 

 Hindi — Tilia Myna; Tilora. 

 Description. — Black, with fulvous-white specks ; there is a purplish 

 red and bronze-green gloss in the plumage. 



Hab. — It is a migratory bird, and a winter visitant to India, where 

 it is common in the Himalayas and in the North-Western Provinces 

 during that season, extending sometimes to the Deccan in the south 

 and Monghyr in the north-east. 



Length of life in captivity. 



There is no record of the period during which one has actually 

 lived in the garden, but they are known to bear captivity well. 



Treatment in health. 



With regard to housing and feeding it may be treated like the 

 preceding species ; as a cage-bird it does well. 



(48) THE GREY-HEADED MYNA. 

 (STURNIA MALABARICA— (Gmel.) ) 

 Hindi and Bengali — Pawi. 

 The pawi or the grey-headed myna is a well-known bird in Bengal, 

 so that no description is necessary. 



Hab. — It is found throughout India, being most common in the 

 North-Western Provinces and some portions of Bengal. 



Length of life in captivity. 



Several of them have been living for the last six or seven years 

 in the garden. 



Treatment in health. 



It does well in a large aviary, or in a large cage, in company 

 with birds of other species. 



