556. Sturnopastor superciliaris

556. Sturnopastor superciliaris.

The Burmese Pied Myna.

Sturnopastor superciliaris, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxxii, p. 77 (1863); Hume, N. & E. p. 427 ; id. S. F. iii, p. 149; Hume & Dav. S. F. vi, p. 337; Hume, Cat. no. 683 bis; Oates, B. B. i, p. 378; Hume, S. F. xi, p. 261; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii, p. 59, pl. v, fig. 2; Oates in Hume's N. & E. 2nd ed. i, p. 388. Sturnopastor contra, var. superciliaris, Blyth, Anders. Yunnan Exped., Aves, p. 594.
Zayet, Burin.

Coloration. Resembles S. contra. Differs in having the forehead and the anterior half of the crown closely streaked with white, the streaks on the sides of the neck and on the shoulders absent or obsolete; in having a well-defined white supercilium joining the ear-coverts ; and in the back and rump being paler.

Gape and basal half of bill orange, remainder of bill yellowish white; mouth black; orbital skin orange-yellow; iris pale yellow ; legs and claws brown.

Length about 9 ; tail 2.6; wing 4.5; tarsus 1.2 ; bill from gape 1.45.

Distribution. The eastern portion of the Empire from Cachar and Manipur down to Mergui in Tenasserim.

Habits, &c. Breeds in Burma from April to June, constructing a similar nest to that of S. contra. The eggs measure about 1.04 by .77.