Colonel G.F.L.  Marshall remarks:—­“This species breeds in the Bolundshahr District in June and July.  It makes its nest in a hole in a bank, but more often in the side of a kucha or earthen well.  A number of birds generally breed in company.  The nest is formed by lining the cavity with a little grass and roots and a few feathers.  On the 8th July I found a colony breeding in a well near Khoorjah, and took a dozen fresh eggs.”

Writing from Lucknow, Mr. G. Reid says:—­“During the breeding season it associates in large flocks along the banks of the Groomti, where it nidificates in colonies in holes in the banks of the river.  From some of these holes I took a few fresh eggs on the 15th May, and again on the 30th June on revisiting the spot.  In the district it breeds in old irrigation-wells and occasionally in ravines with good steep banks.”

Major C.T.  Bingham, writing from Allahabad, says:—­“Breeds in June, July, and August in holes in sandy banks of rivers and nullahs.  Eggs, five in number, laid on a lining of straw and feathers.”

Colonel E.A.  Butler notes:—­“The Bank Myna lays about Deesa in June and July.  On the 26th June I lowered a man down several wells, finding nests containing eggs and nests containing young ones, some nearly fledged.  The nests are generally in holes in the brickwork, often further in than a man can reach, and several pairs of birds usually occupy the same well.  The eggs vary much in shape and number.  In some nests I found as many as five, in others only two or three.  In colour they closely resemble the eggs of A. tristis, but they are slightly smaller, the tint is of a decidedly deeper shade, and the shell more glossy.  July 5th, several nests, some containing eggs, others young ones.  July 13th, numerous nests in wells and banks, some containing fresh, others incubated eggs, and others young birds of all sizes.  The eggs varied in number from two to five.  I took twenty-six fresh eggs and then discontinued.”

Lieut.  H.E.  Barnes informs us that in Rajputana this Myna breeds about May.

The eggs are typically, I think, shorter and proportionally broader than those of other kindred species already described; very pyriform varieties are, however, common.  They are as usual spotless, very glossy, and of different shades of very pale sky- and greenish blue.  Although, when a large series of the eggs of this and each of the preceding species are grouped together, a certain difference is observable, individual eggs can by no means be discriminated, and it is only by taking the eggs with one’s own hand that one can feel certain of their authenticity.

In length they vary from 0.95 to 1.16, and in breadth from 0.72 to 0.87; but the average of forty-seven eggs is 1.05 by 0.82.

552.  Aethiopsar fuscus (Wagl.). The Jungle Myna.

Acridotheres fuscus (Wagl.) Jerd.  B. Ind. ii, p. 327; Hume, Rough
Draft N. & E. no. 686.