ACEIDOTHEEBS MELANOSTEENUS. 
C71 
Ohs. The Ceylonese Myna forms a closely allied race or subspecies of the Indian bird (A. tristis), difPering from the 
latter in its darker plumage, both as regards the back and flauks, and likewise in the Uaclc coloration of the centre 
of the breast and upper border of the white abdomen, on the strength of which latter character I have established its 
rank as an island race. Blyth first pointed out that it was darker than tho Indian form, but does not seem to 
have noticed the black breast, which is entirely different from this part in any continental specimen that I have 
seen. Jerdon likewise remarks that it appeared to be darker. I have before me eighteen examples belonging to 
the national collection from all parts of India, as well as from Burtnah, and from Eeunion and Mauritius, in 
which islands they were acclimatized from India ; and they all have the centre of the breast somewhat paler than 
the surrounding plumage, which varies from a pale, though sullied, isabelline to a fine russet colour. The centre 
of the lower part of the breast is slightly pervaded with the pallid hue of the abdomen, the converse of which is 
the case in the island bird. The oidy approach made to this character in any Indian specimens I have seen 
exists in the case of two specimens from M.a]abar, which have the inner tvebs of the feathers at the centre of the 
upper part of the breast blackish brown; but this presents a totally different appearance to the black band 
down the whole sternal region of the Ceylonese race. The wings of Indian examples of A. tristis vary from 
5-3 to 6-0 inches — 5-5 inches being the usual dimension, judging from the series I have measured. 
Mr. Hume observes (loc. cit.) that he does not find the Indian birds any paler than Ceylonese ; he, however, does not 
comment upon the dark breasts of the latter. It is possible that he m.ay have noticed the same character in some 
continental birds ; but as none of the specimens in the tolerably large series I have examined exhibit any further 
tendency to it than that above noticed in the Malabar examples, the Ceylonese race, in my opinion, is a good one. 
Distribution . — This well-known bird is exceedingly abundant in the cultivated portions of Ceylon, 
frequenting both sides of the island alike, and being as numerous in the hot districts of the north as in the 
more humid region comprised in the south-west corner. In districts w'here large tracts of pasture-land or of 
paddy cultivation prevail the Myna shows up in great numbers. About the Panadure and Bolgodde Lakes, 
between Matale and Galle, in the Batticaloa rice-fields, in the green pastures on each side of the Virgel, and 
in the open fields of the Jaffna peninsula it is to be seen in hundreds. But it is not always in such places 
that it throngs, for I found it numerous in the hill-begirt lands of the western part of the Pasdun Korale 
and in similar localities in the Galle district. It ranges into the Central Province to a considerable altitude, 
I’eaching its highest limit, I believe, in the dry cool season. Mr. Porbes Laurie has seen it in Maturatta at 
3500 feet, and in Kalebokka at 3000 feet, and I have seen it at Uva higher than either of these elevations. 
Its near ally in India is a very abundant bird and is scattered over all the low country of the empire, 
extending into Burmah and Tenasserim. It ranges into the mountains to a considerable altitude, breeding at 
Mussoori, and occurring in the Palanis up to 4000 feet. 
It may not be out of place to mention here that it has been successfully acclimatized in Victoria, where 
it may be seen in Melbourne frequenting the villas in the suburbs and everywhere making itself at home upon 
the housetops. It has also been introduced, with the same result, into the Mauritius. 
Habits . — ^This Myna takes the place in Ceylon of the English Starling. It is one of the most familiar 
species in the island, taking up its abode in the native husbaudman'’s paddy-field and assiduously attending 
on his cattle and buffaloes, about which it obtains an abundance of food, in the way of flies attracted by the 
animals, ticks living on them, and other insects to be found about oxen. Each field has its little party of 
half a dozen or more, which pass their time between the pastures aud the surrounding cocoanut-trees, and at 
evening fly away towards the common roosting-place, where the Mynas, for many miles around, resort 
with common consent to pass the night. Such a colony as this I once discovered on the shores of the 
Bolgodde Lake ; here a large reed-bed was the nightly rendezvous, and from all points of the compass were to 
be seen little flocks flying low and swiftly across the broad expanse of water, and settling down with much 
chattering, fighting, and squabbling in the tall and sheltering reeds. On my firing a gun the w'hole rose 
en masse, like a dark cloud, and filled the air for the moment with a booming sound. Another but a smaller 
colony I found taking up its quarters in an isolated knoll in a paddy-field in the Pasdun Korale. In the 
Central Province it frequents open patnas, where the cattle of the Singhalese villagers are to be found grazing, 
and roosts in the areca- and sugar-palms near the villages. It feeds on caterpillars and worms as much as 
any thing else, and scratches in the ordure of cattle for grubs; it may often be seen perched on the 
backs of cattle and scrutinizing their skins with as much audacity as the Crow ! Its walk is erect, and its 
