22 



Catalogue of the Birds 



[Jan. 



The Carnatic appears to be tlie head quarters of tins species of Myna, 

 as it is the only district in which it can be said to be nuuierous. I 

 did not observe it in the Northern Circars, nor in the wooded region of 

 the west coast, though I doubt not, that it may occur occasionally in 

 both regions, and in the central table land of the peninsula. I have 

 only observed it rarely, few in number, and in the cold season. In the 

 Carnatic (as about Madras and Trichinopoly) it is extremely abundant, 

 feeds chiefly on the ground, on grasshoppers, and other insects, in small 

 parties, and is very sprightly and active ; walking and hopping about, 

 sometimes in company with the common Mijna, and often seen 

 among cattle. It also, however, feeds on trees, on various fruit, ber- 

 ries and flower buds, and this seems to be its usual habit on the few 

 occasions I have observed it out of the Carnatic. Its note-; are some- 

 what similar to those of the common Myna. It has also, however, a 

 pleasant song. Lengths to 8^ inches; wing tail 2^ to 3; 



tarsus iyV^^h 5 bill (to front) yV^^'s ; at gape 1 inch. Irides greenish 

 white ; bill at base blue, then greenish, and yellow at lip \ legs bright 

 yellow. 



166. — P. Malabaricus. — Tardus 3Iidabaricus, Gmel. — Le Martin 

 VieiUard, Lesson. — H hue headed Myna. 



Waglerhas committed a capital mistake when he pronounces this to 

 be the adult female of the last, and shews how much caution should be 

 used by naturalists at home, before deciding on tl,e identity of birds, 

 whose general appearance and structure is similar, though in this case 

 the ditference of structure, as well as of plumage, might have sug- 

 gested the contrary opinion. The uhtte headed Myna is only found, 

 as far as I am aware, in the lofty jungles of the Malabar coast, 

 frequenting high trees in the more o[en spaces of the jungle, living in 

 small families, and feeding chiefly on various kinds of insects, larvae, 

 and in one or two instances, as 1 found, on small snails. It climbs about 

 the trunk and branches of trees with great facility, and never that I ob- 

 served, descends to the ground. It has a very sweet song. Mr. Elliot 

 mentions it as found in the forests of the Southern Mahratta Country, 

 but as it is not included in Colonel Sykes' catalogue, it probably does not 

 extend so far to the northward as his district. Feathers of the head 

 and neck beautifully white, and silky in adult specimens. In some 

 birds the white of the neck extends over the breast, and part of the belly, 

 nearly hiding the usual rufous tint of those parts. Irides, greyish white ; 



