DESCRIPTION, DISTRIBUTION, HABITS 



them. Often seen in flocks of lOO to 500 on the veld. They 

 breed in colonies, filling trees with their nests, which 

 are cup shaped. Clutch, 4 to 5 ; eggs pale blue, sometimes 

 spotted ; size, 1.20 by 0.90. 



Black-vented Glossy Starling {Lamprocolius melano- 

 gaster). (Vol. 1., p. 168.) 



Description. — Male : dull black on abdomen ; steel blue 

 and green sheen on crown ; oil-green on sides of neck and nape ; 

 purple on back, rump, and upper tail coverts. The entire 

 plumage of the upper parts is more or less glossed with steel 

 blue, purple, and oil-green on a black base. 



Total length.^ 8.00 ; tail, 3.40 ; wing, 4.30. 

 The female is not so glossy as the male. 



Distribution. — Eastern Cape Province, and north to Zanzibar 

 and Mombasa. 



Habits. — Associates in flocks in the bush-veld. Pairs off 

 when breeding. Nests in holes in tree trunks. Eggs in clutch, 

 3 to 4 ; pale blue-green, spotted with brown ; size, 1.05 by 

 0.75. 



These birds are migratory. 



Burchell's Glossy Starling {Laniprocolius australis). 



(Vol. I., p. 173.) 



Description. — Adult male : entire plumage glossy with 

 shades of oil-green, purple, blue, and violet. Tail graduated 

 and with many cross bars. Iris hazel. Bill and feet black. 



Total length., 14.00 ; tail, 6.70 ; wing, '] .'^o. 

 The female is smaller than the male. 



Distribution. — From centre of Cape Province, and north to 

 Angola. 



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