in captivity in lower bengal. 209 



Observations on the habits of the Pied Myna. 



The pied mynas are fond of associating in flocks, and neither in 

 their wild state nor in captivity are they timid birds. They feed much 

 on the ground ; when caged and tamed they learn to sing, whistle and 

 even imitate other birds. They appear to be less fussy than the common 

 myna. 



(57) THE COMMON PIED BUSH CHAT. 



(PRATINCOLA CAPKATA— (Linn.) ) 



Hindi and Bengali — Peddha. 



Description. — The general colour of the plumage black ; a stripe on 



the wings, upper tail-coverts, middle of the abdomen, vent, and under 



tail-coverts, white. 



The female, dusky brown; rump and upper tail-coverts rufous 

 brown, beneath pale reddish-brown. The males vary in shades of colour 

 somewhat according to season ; length about 5 inches ; bill black, legs 

 brown black. 



Hab. — It is found almost all over India, extending to Burmah and 

 the Malayan countries and the Philippines ; it is rather less common in 

 the delta of Bengal. 



Length of life in captivity. 



Although specimens have now and then belonged to the garden, 

 they have not, as a rule, done well in captivity here, so that there is no 

 record of the period during which one has lived in this garden. 



Treatment in health. 



Generally speaking, the common pied bush chat requires the same 

 care and treatment with regard to its housing and feeding as the 

 "Shama" (No. 59). 



(58) THE MAG-PIE EOBIN. 



(COPSYCHUS SAULARIS— (Linn.) ) 



Hindi and Bengali — Dayal. 



The dayal is such a well-known bird in Bengal that no description 

 is necessary. 



Hab. — Throughout the whole of India, ascending the Himalayas 

 up about 5,000 feet, and extending to Tenasserim and Ceylon. 



Length of life in captivity. 



As they are extremely common in Bengal, and as numbers of them 

 are living within the garden in a semi-domesticated state, no serious 

 attempt has ever been made to exhibit them in captivity. Adult birds 

 should not be caged, as they do not bear captivity at all. 



