sen 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. Oates 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. ginginianus_, 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 1.28, and in breadth from 0.8 to
0.95; but the average of ninety-seven eggs is 1.19 by 0.86.

550. Acridotheres melanosternus, Legge. _The Common Ceylon Myna_.

Acridotheres melanosternus, _Legge, Hume, cat._ no. 684 bis.

Colonel Legge tells us, in his 'Birds of Ceylon,' 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.'"

551. Acridotheres ginginianus (Lath.). _The Bank Myna_.

Acridotheres ginginianus (_Lath.), Jerd. B. Ind._ ii, p. 326; _Hume,
Rough Draft N. & E._ no. 685.

The Bank Myna breeds throughout th