22 STCRNID^. 



Family II. STURNIDiE. 



Key to the Suhfaniilies. 



A. Hind claw stronger than claw of middle toe . . STURNIN^, 



B. Hind claw not so powerful as that of the middle 



toe . BUPHAGINjE. 



Subfamily I. STURNIN^. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Nasal aperture elongated, with a distinct 

 superior membrane, which is always 

 swollen ; outstretched feet generally 

 reaching to the end of the tail, in the 

 skin. 

 a' . Bill very long and pointed ; culmen 

 nearly straight ; geuys flattened and 

 broad for its entire length ; culmen 

 and tarsus about equal in length. 

 a" . Wing long and pointed ; the differ- 

 ence between the tip of the primaries 

 and the tip of the secondaries gi-eater 

 than the tarsus. 

 «\ Nasal membrane bare, with no su- 

 perior plumelets on the operculum ; 

 no bare space round the eye ; bill 

 without any distinct pattern, and 

 as high as it is broad at the 



nostrils 1 . Sturnus, p. 2(3. 



6'. Nasal membrane with tiny plume- 

 lets reaching to anterior edge of 

 nasal fossa ; no bare space round 

 the eye ; bill generally of different 

 colours, with a black base as a 

 rule to lower mandible, narrower 

 than it is broad at the nostril ; tail 



rounded 2. Poliopsar, p. 40. 



b". Wing more rounded, the difference 

 between the tips of the secondaries 

 and the primaries less than the 

 tarsus ; a bare space round or be- 

 hind the eye 4. Sturnopastor, p. 56. 



b'. Bill more curved, the genys rounded for 

 its entire length ; culmen less than the 

 tarsus in length, 

 c''. Wings long and pointed, the differ- 

 ence between the tips of the pri- 

 maries and tho.se of the secondaries 

 greater than the tarsus ; wings reach- 

 ing nearly to the end of the tail ; 

 region of the eye feathered. 

 c'. Head bare, with erect wattles on 

 the head and lappet extending 

 from the bare throat 5. Dilophtjs, p. 61. 



