A VES. 73 



FAMILY, STURNID.^. 



136. Sturmis vulgaris. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 290. Common Star- 

 ling. Arab, yy^y), Zcrzoiir. 



The Starling is only a winter migrant, visiting the maritime plains in 

 tens of thousands, with a few of the Sardinian Starling in their company. 

 The latter does not, as in Algeria, remain to breed. The Starlings all 

 depart at the end of February. 



The Starling is found throughout Europe, the Atlantic Islands from 

 the Azores eastwards, North Africa, all Northern Asia, and down to 

 Persia and India. 



137. Stunuts luiicolor. De la Marm. Temm. ]\Ian. d'Orn. i., p. 133. 

 Sardinian Starling. 



This species, which Is never spotted, is confined to the countries 

 bordering on the Mediterranean, and is scarce in the eastern parts. It is 

 much rarer than the other species, even where it does occur, and is much 

 less migratory. I procured it three times in winter in Palestine. 



138. Pastor roseus. (Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 294.) Rose-coloured 

 Pastor. 



The Rose-coloured Pastor is well known to the natives as the Locust 

 Bird, from its habit of preying on that pest, whose flights it generally follows. 

 It is very uncertain in its visits, being an erratic rather than a migratory bird. 

 I found it in 1858, not in 1864 or 1872. In 1881 I came across mar- 

 vellous flights of this bird in Northern Syria, which for three days (26-28 

 May) passed us on the Orontes, near the ancient Larissa, in countless 

 myriads, all travelling to the westward. There must have been thousands 

 upon thousands. The locusts were there, and on one occasion we rode 

 over some acres alive with young locusts, which absolutely carpeted the 

 whole surface. One of these flocks suddenly alighted, like a vast fan 

 dropping on the earth and dappling it with black and pink. Soon they 

 rose again. We returned, and not a trace of a locust could we find. See 

 Ibis, 1882, pp. 410-414, for a full account of this marvellous migration. I 

 may add that all these myriads were in fully adult plumage. 



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