its presence In the low lying forests at the foot of the Ambegamoa district 
may be due to the felling of its native forests on those hills. 
The Blackbird is much oftener seen in open coffee districts now than a few 
years back, and it is evident that so great an alteration in the face of na¬ 
ture in the Central Province must needs produce a corresponding change in 
the habits of many of the birds which.frequent it, 
HABITS 
This handsome bird frequents for the most part the tops of tall trees; it 
associates in small parties, and is partial to the sides of deep ravines, 
lofty precipices, and overhanging woods. It is fond of launching Itself 
out into mid air from these dizzy heights, uttering its shrill metallic soun¬ 
ding whistle and loud calls, and circling round, it returns to its lofty 
perch on the top of some huge Doon tree, and there continues the exercise of 
its vocal powers. 
Its well known voice consists of a piercing but not unharmonious whistle, 
repeated several times, and then folived by a series of loud guttural calls, 
some of which resemble the syllables 'choooke,' ohiooope*; these are however 
only uttered as a call note when it is perched. 
The Myna talks well, and is eagerly sought after as a caged bird, and 
much prized by the Kandyans as a pet, as it is extremely difficult to pro¬ 
cure from the nest. 
It is a restldss bird, particularly -towards roosting time, and in forests 
where it is abundant I have often seen it roaming about in small parties, 
dashing down the gloomy gullies, arid sweeping ''backward s and forwards with 
frequent rapid descents, which cause a loud rustling sound. After aliwnt- 
ing on the tallest tree to be found, these restless parties Indulge in sun¬ 
dry piercing whistles, then start off again on their peregrinations un¬ 
til a suitable spot for their night quarters In the foliage of some vast 
tree is found. 
In Its mbits it is like the rest of the Crackles, entirely arboreal, and 
its diet is frugivorons. Among the many fruits to be found in the rorests 
of Ceylon there are none of which it is soUond as the wild cinnamon and nut 
meg. The latter they swallow whole, digesting the mace from the exterior 
of the nut, which they afterwards reject. The habit ascribed by Layard to 
this species of frequenting pastures and perching on the backs of cattle pro 
babl'y. appertains to the common’Myna (AeH doth eras Melanosternus). for it is 
essentially an arboreal bird, and does not descend to the ground’at all. 
