340 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Poqei, the former from Java, and the latter from Celebes, appear to 

 belong to this sub-family. Basilnmis, or the crested IVlynas, 

 from Malayana, are usually placed near the Hill Mynas. Calornis 

 may be said to be the Malayan representative of the African 

 Lamprotornis. One S()ecies, L. cantor, Gmel. {chalybceus Horsf. — 

 ajfinis, Hay) is recorded, from Tipperah, Burmah, and Malacca. 

 Another species, Calornis dauricus, Pallas, is quite interme- 

 diate, both in color and structure, between the glossy Mynas 

 and the grey Mynas ( Temenuchus) ; it extends from Malayana 

 into China and (Jentral Asia ; and Heterornis pyrrhogenys, Miill., 

 and Pastor rnficolUs, Wagler, are nearly allied species from 

 Borneo, Japan, and the Philippines. Several others allied to 

 cantor are recorded from the Malayan isles and Oceanica. 



The rest of this sub-family are chiefly African. They are 

 showy birds, with rich glossy plumage, of moderate size, and often 

 with leno-thened tails. They live in flocks, eat both fruit and 

 insects, and often perch on the backs of cattle. One of these 

 birds, Amydus Tristrami, figured by Gould, Birds of Asia, XI. 

 pi. 9, occurs in Palestine. 



Bupliagince, or the Oxpeckers, are a purely African tribe, whose 

 position has been a subject of much doubt. They are a singular 

 group, comprising only two species, with short, stout, somewhat 

 curved bills, short but stout feet, with strongly curved claws. 

 They are of plain and sombre plumage, and perch a good deal 

 on the backs of cattle, camels, and rhinoceros, &c.; and are 

 said to extract the larvnj of botflies and ticks from the skins of 

 those animals. 



The remaining families of the Sturnince are strictly American. 

 Some, Quiscalince, have long graduated tails, with the sides curved 

 upwards, whence called Boat-tails. Their bill is long, straight, 

 with the nostrils placed in triangular grooves, pointed wings, and 

 a long hind toe, with curved claw ; their plumage is usually 

 glossy black, mixed Avith chesnut. They live in troops, feeding 

 alike on grain and insects, and nestle in society, forming nests of 

 mud, lined with grass and hair. 



The Icterince, or Hang-nests, chiefly differ from the last in want- 

 ing their boat-like tail; they are often adorned with yellow 



