Temenuchus pagodarum (_Gm.), Jerd. B. Ind._ ii, p. 329; _Hume, Rough
Draft N. & E._ no. 687.
The Pagoda or Black-headed Myna breeds throughout the more open, dry,
and well-wooded or cultivated portions of India. In Sindh and in the
more arid and barren parts of the Punjab and Rajpootana on the one
hand, or in the more humid and jungly localities of Lower Bengal on
the other, it occurs, if at all, merely as a seasonal straggler. How
Adams, quoted by Jerdon (vol. ii, p. 330), could say that he never saw
it in the plains of the North-West Provinces (where, as a matter of
fact, it is one of our commonest resident species), altogether puzzles
me.
Neither in the north nor in the south does it appear to ascend the
hills or breed in them at any elevations exceeding 3000 or 4000 feet.
The breeding-season lasts from May to August, but in Upper India the
great majority lay in June.
According to my experience in Northern India it nests exclusively in
holes in trees. Dr. Jerdon says that "at Madras it breeds about large
buildings, pagodas, houses, &c." This is doubtless correct, but has
not been confirmed as yet by any of my Southern Indian correspondents,
who all talk of finding its nest in holes of trees.
The whole is thinly lined with a few dead leaves, a little grass, and
a few feathers, and occasionally with a few small scraps of some other
soft material.
They lay from three to five eggs.
From Hansie Mr. W. Blewitt writes:--"During June and the early part
of July I found numerous nests of this species in holes of shishum,
peepul, neem, and siriss trees situated on the bank of the Hissar
Canal. The holes where at heights of from 12 to 15 feet from the
ground, and in each a few leaves or feathers were laid under the eggs.
Five was the greatest number found in any one hole."
Recording his experience in the Delhi, Jhansi, and Saugor Divisions,
Mr. F.R. Blewitt tells us that the Pagoda Myna breeds from May to
July, building its nest in holes of trees, selecting where possible
those most inaccessible. I have always found the nest in the holes of
mango, tamarind, and high-growing jamún trees. Feathers and grass,
sometimes an odd piece of rag, are loosely placed at the bottom of the
hole, and on these the eggs repose.
"The eggs are pale bluish green, and from four to five form the
regular number. I may add that only on one occasion did I obtain five
eggs in a nest."
"In Oudh," writes Mr. R.M. Adam, "I took one nest of this species, in
a hole in a mango-tree, on the 5th May, containing five eggs."
Major C.T. Bingham remarks:--"All nests I have found at Allahabad and
Delhi have been in holes in trees, in the end of May, June, and July.
Nest strictly speaking there is none, but the holes are lined with
feathers and straw, in which the eggs, four in number, are generally
half buried."
Lieut. H.E. Barnes tells us that this Myna breeds in Rajputana in
June, and that he found one nest in that month in a hole of a tree
with three eggs.
Colonel E.A. Butler records the following notes:--"The Black-headed
Myna breeds plentifully in the neighbourhood of Deesa in June, July,
and August, but somehow or other I was unlucky this year (1876) in
procuring eggs. On the 30th July I found a nest containing four young
birds and another containing four eggs about to hatch. On the 2nd of
August I found three nests, all containing young birds. On the 20th
August I found four more nests; three contained young birds and the
fourth four fresh eggs. All of these nests were in holes of trees, in
most instances only just large enough at the entrance for the bird to
pass through. In some cases there was no lining at all except wood
dust, in others a small quantity of dry grass and a few feathers. The
average height from the ground was about 8 or 10 feet; some nests
were, however, not more than 4 or 5 feet high.
"Belgaum, 21st May, 1879.--A nest in the roof of a house under the
tiles; three fresh eggs. Another nest on the same date in a hole of
a tree, containing one fresh egg. The hole appeared to be an old
nest-hole of a Barbet. Other nests observed later on, in June and
July, in the roofs of houses under the tiles. Another nest in the
hole of a tree, 27th April, containing four fresh eggs. Three more
nests, 4th May, containing three incubated eggs, three fresh eggs,
and three young birds respectively. Two of the nests were in the
nest-holes of Barbets, from which I had taken eggs the month previous.
7th May, another nest containing four fresh eggs.
"I can confirm Dr. Jerdon's statement, quoted in the Rough Draft of
'Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds,' relative to this species breeding in
large buildings, having observed several nests myself this season at
Belgaum on the roofs of bungalows. In one bungalow, the mess-house of
the 83rd Regt., there were no less than three nests at one time built
under the eaves of the roof."
Messrs. Davidson and Wenden, writing of the Deccan, say:--"Not quite
so common as _Acridotheres tristis_. Breeds at Satara in May."
Mr. Benjamin Aitken remarks:--"In Nests and Eggs, p. 433, you
write:--'Dr. Jerdon says that at Madras it breeds about large
buildings, pagodas, houses, &c.' This is doubtless correct, but has not
been confirmed as yet by any of my Southern Indian correspondents, who
all talk of finding its nest in holes of trees.' On the 29th June last
year I was at the Anniversary Meeting of the Medical College, and the
proceedings were disturbed by the incessant clatter of _two_ broods of
young of this species. The nests were in holes in the wall near the
roof, and the two pairs of old birds, which were feeding their young,
kept coming and going the whole time, flying in at the windows and
popping into the holes over the peoples' heads. In the following month
a nest of young were taken out of a hole in the outer wall of a house
I was staying at, and the birds laid again and hatched another brood.
"I very rarely saw the Black-headed Myna in Bombay, Poona, or Berar,
but here, in Madras, it is, if anything, commoner than _A. tristis_."
And Mr. J. Davidson, writing from Mysore, also confirms Jerdon's
statement; he says:--"_T. pagodarum_ breeds here in holes in the roofs
of houses as well as in trees."
Of the breeding of this Myna in Ceylon, Colonel Legge says:--"In the
northern part of Ceylon this Myna breeds in July and August, and
nests, I am informed, in the holes of trees."
Mr. A.G.R. Theobald notes that "early in August I found a nest of _T.
pagodarum_ at Ahtoor, the hill-station of the Shevaroys. It was
down in the inside of a partly hollow nut-tree log, attached to a
scaffolding, about 2 1/2 feet down and, say, 35 feet from the ground,
and was composed of dry leaves and a few feathers. It contained three
fresh eggs."
The eggs of this Myna are, of course, glossy and spotless, and the
colour varies from very pale bluish white to pale blue or greenish
blue. I have never seen an egg of this species of the full clear
sky-blue often exhibited by those of _A. tristis, S. contra_, and _A.
giuginianus_.
The eggs vary in length from 0·86 to 1·15, and in breadth from 0·66 to
0·8; but the average of fifty-four eggs is 0·97 by 0·75.