380 STUETSflDJE.

" With reference to your remarks in fi Ne&ts and Eggs/ that you
have never met with more than five eggs in a nest, I would mention
that T took six eggs from a nest in the roof of a house I occupied
at Akola, on the 20th June, 1870.

" At the same station in August 1869 a nest of young Mynas
was reared above the hinge of the semaphore, signal at the railway-*
station. One or other arm of the signal must have risen and
fallen every time a train passed, but the motion neither alarmed
the birds nor disarranged the nest."

Messrs. Davidson and "Wenden remark of this Myna in the
Deccan.:—" Common, and breeds in May and June/'

Mr. J. Inglis, writing from Cachar, says :—" The commonest of
all birds here. Breeds throughout the summer months. It makes
its nest generally in the roofs of houses or in holes in trees. It
lays about five eggs of a very pale blue colour."

Finally, Mr. Gates writes from. Pegu :—" Commences making
nest about 15th March. I have taken eggs as late as 17th July,
but in this case the previous brood had been destroyed. Normally
no eggs are to be found after June."

The eggs, which are larger than those of either Sturnopastor
contra or A. yinginianus, in other respects resemble these eggs
greatly, but when fresh are, I think, on the whole of a slightly
darker colour. They are rather long, oval, often pear-shaped,
eggs, spotless and brilliantly glossy, varying from very pale blue
to pure sky- or greenish blue.

In length they vary from 1*05 to 1-2S, and in breadth from 0-8
to 0*95; but the average of ninety-seven eggs is 1*19 by 0-86.

550. Acridotheres melanosteruus, Legge. Tlie Common Ceylon

Myna.

Acridotlieres melanosternus, Legge, Hume, Cat. no. 684 bis.

Colonel Legge tells us, in his 6 Eirds of Ceylon,3 that " this
species breeds in Ceylon from February until May, nesting
perhaps more in the month of March than in any other. It builds
in holes of trees, often choosing a cocoanut-palm which has been
hollowed out by a Woodpecker, and in the cavity thus formed
makes a nest of grass, fibres, and roots. I once found a nest in
the end of a hollow areca-palm which was the cross beam of a
swing used by the children of the Orphan School, Bonavista, and
the noise of whose play and mirth seemed to be viewed by the birds
with the utmost unconcern. The eggs are from three to five in
number; they are broad ovals, somewhat pointed towards the
small end, and are uniform, unspotted, pale bluish or ethereal
green. They vary in length from 1*07 to 1*2 inch and in breadth
from 0-85 to 0-92* inch.

" Layard styles the eggs ' light blue, much resembling those of
the European Starling in shape, but rather darker in colour.' "