38 Mr. IMyth^s Commentary 



D. occipitalis, Miiller, and D, rvfigaster, Gould, are identical. 

 D. bayleiji, Tytler (J. A. S. B. xxxii. p. 89, and Ibis, 1863, 

 pp. 119—464), is a well-marked small species from the An- 

 damans. 



679. Fregilus himalayanus. 



May not this be Mr. Swinhoe's species from North China 

 (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 303), as also that of Afghanistan, where it is 

 stated by Capt. T. Hutton (J. A. S. B. xvi. p. 778) to be abun- 

 dant during the winter months, arriving in November from the 

 hills to the northward, and departing again about March. 



681. Sturnus indicus. 



Starlings occur sufficiently near to Calcutta to be sold by the 

 bird-dealers as no rarity, along with Rose Ousels and diffei'ent 

 Mainas which are taken in the neighbourhood. I have been 

 assured that they occur commonly so near as at Ranigange. 

 The Indian Starling differs very slightly from ;S^. vulgaris, but 

 has a longer and more acuminate bill. A third race, which Mr. 

 Gould has from Erzroom, is identical with the Starling of 

 Afghanistan, and more brilliantly coloured than the others. 

 When series of each are seen together, the difference is suffi- 

 ciently recognizable. The Starling of North-eastern Asia may 

 perhaps constitute a fourth of these closely allied races. 



682. Sturnus unicolor. 



I have considerable misgivings that old specimens of S. in- 

 dicus, with long pointed feathers, having their terminal pale 

 spots obsolete, have been mistaken for S. unicolor-, and I know 

 this to be the case with the supposed S. unicolor from Kan- 

 dahar (J. A. S. B. xvi. p. 779), the spotless specimen being, 

 in this instance, the bright-coloured Afghan Starling. Dr. 

 Breeds figure, intended for S. unicolor, appears to me to repre- 

 sent such an example of S. vulgaris. 



683. Sturnopastor contra (Linn.); PI. Enl. 281. 

 S.jalla of Java differs in having the abdominal region pure 



white; and S. superciliaris is the Tenasserim race, with a 

 browner back, extending to Siam, where the white on the fore- 

 head and eyebrows increases in quantity ; or perhaps adequate 

 series from Siam and the Tenasserim provinces would not 



