PASSERES— STURNID.'E 11 



S. vulgaris grant! Hartcrt. ist primary 10-13 m.m. lonf,^ 

 generally aljout 2 m.m. shorter than in "vulgaris." Dill averages 

 smaller. 



Re si den t. — Azores. 



S. vulgaris sophiee Dianchi. Head more purplish, especially 

 on crown and throat ; ear coverts greenish. 



Breeds. — East Russia, Moscow to Urals. Occurs Caucasus on 

 passage, and in winter Cyprus and Egypt. 



S. vulgaris balcanicus Ikiturlin and Harms. Crown and ear 

 coverts purple, latter occasionally green ; hind neck, upper back 

 and upper tail coverts green, lower back and rump green to 

 purplish blue ; edges to wing coverts, secondaries and scapulars 

 bluish purple or violet ; throat, breast and abdomen purple ; 

 under wing coverts as in "vulgaris." Resembles " poltaratskyi " 

 of \V. Asia, but under wing coverts and axillaries have narrower 

 buff margins. 



Ihreds. — Bulgaria and Rumania to Dniester. 



S. vulgaris graecus Tschusi. Head and neck purple with 

 slight green reflections ; ear coverts varying purple to green ; 

 back, rump and upper tail coverts green with purplish tinge on 

 upper back ; breast and abdomen green, flanks purple ; wing 

 coverts and secondaries purple with green reflections. Very close 

 to and doubtfully separable from " sophias." 



Breeds. — Greece. Migrates ; has occurred at Malta. 



S. vulgaris tauricus Buturlin. Scapulars, upper wing coverts, 

 rump and upper tail coverts reddish purple, back deep green 

 and sometimes tinged purple ; head and throat green, sometimes 

 with purple tinge ; underparts purple ; flanks purplish bronze. 

 Wing 14T-142. Like "purpurascens" of Asia Minor, but wing 

 longer. 



Breeds.— <Zx\\\\^2i. 



S. vulgaris caucasicus Lorenz. Head green generally with 

 purple reflections ; ear coverts green, breast green, abdomen steely 

 purple, back and scapulars green, wing coverts brilliant purple, 

 also flanks and secondaries ; under wing coverts grey with white 

 margins. 



Breeds. — Caucasus to Persia. 



