534 
CATALOGUE. 
" Lives in great noisy crowds about Calcutta. In their mode of 
life, they resemble both starlings and jackdaws ; indeed, they are 
quite like the latter when they walk upon the ground, nodding their 
heads at every step. Their flight is heavy, with a strong motion of 
the wings, but when they stop, the wings are held still and ex- 
panded. In the morning and evening, they sit in flocks on the trees, 
and make a fearful noise with their chattering voices. They eat 
chiefly rice, but often insects, especially crickets." — (Sundevall.) 
" This is never found in high or dense jungle ; it roosts in 
numerous flocks, generally on high trees, and disperses in various 
parties of two, four, six, or more, about sunrise : some enter the 
villages and cantonments, others attend flocks of cattle, which they 
follow while grazing, feeding on the grasshoppers and other insects. 
It will also feed on grain, and seeds of various kinds, and is very 
fond of white ants. Its flight is swift, steady, and direct. It breeds 
in holes of old trees, walls, and buildings, &c., during the hot 
weather. It is very often taken when young and caged, becoming 
very familiar, learning to repeat words and sentences with great ease. 
Its cries are many and varied, most of them harsh, loud, and dis- 
agreeable, but it has also some sweet and agreeable notes. This 
bird, as I learn from Mr. Elliot's Notes, is sacred to Eam-deo, on 
whoes hand it sits." — (Jerdon.) 
" This is a summer visitor in the hills, and arrives at Masuri with 
the A.fuscus, AVagl. It builds in the hole of a tree, which is lined 
with dry grass and feathers ; and on no occasion have I ever seen a 
nest made on the branches of a tree, whereon which the nest was com- 
posed of * twigs and grass within' (as stated by Captain Tickell)." 
— (Captain Hutton.) 
" Nest composed of roots and other rubbish, in trees or holes in 
houses, verandahs, &c. — June. Eggs five, ovato-pyriform, ; pale 
bluish-green. In Cashmere, the nest and eggs were found in the 
month of April."— (Theobald.) 
" This is common in Ceylon, frequenting meadows in search of 
worms, grubs, and not refusing perfect beetles when they come in 
their way ; they scratch among the ordure of cattle (whence their 
native appellation), and scatter it far and wide over the fields ; like the 
other Mynahs, also, they often perch on the backs of cattle in search 
of ticks. Breed in hollow trees, making a nest of fibres and dry 
grasses, laying from three to five light-blue eggs. Axis 13 lines, 
diam. 10 lines. Young birds hatched in March and April." — (E. 
L. Layard.) 
