NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Habits. — This starling is usually seen in small flocks and in 

 pairs when breeding. The nests are in holes in trees, in crevices 

 under the roofs of houses, etc. Clutch, 4 ; eggs blue-green, 

 spotted with brown ; size, 1.36 by 0.95. 



Pied Starling (Spreo bicolor). (Vol. I., p. 173.) 



Description. — Lower abdomen and under tail coverts white. 

 Tail brown below, bronze-green above. Rest of the plumage 

 brown with a bronze-green sheen. The female does not differ 

 in plumage from the male. Iris pale yellow. A bare ring 

 of white round the eye. Bill black with a yellow wattle 

 at the base. 



Total length., 10.1^ \ tail, 4.20 ; wing, 5.75. 



Distribution. — South Africa only. It does not occur in 

 the very dry western parts of the country. 



Habits. — Goes in flocks. Nests in holes in banks, holes in 

 walls, under the eaves of farmhouses, and in rock crevices. 

 Often seen out on the veld in the company of cattle. 

 Clutch, 3 to 6 ; eggs bright blue, and occasionally spotted 

 with brown ; size, 1.15 by 0.85. 



Red-shouldered Glossy Starling {LamprocoUus phoeni- 

 copterus). (Vol. I., p. 178.) 



Description. — Male : glossy oil-green with purple, violet, 

 and steel-blue reflections. Iris orange-yellow. Bill and feet 

 black. 



Lengthy 10.50 ; tail, 4 ; wing, 5.80. 

 The female is somewhat duller in plumage. 



Distribution. — From Eastern Province of Cape to Orange 

 Free State. 



Habits. — Associates in flocks in winter. Pairs off in spring. 

 Nests in holes in trees, crevices, under eaves of houses, etc. 

 Eggs, 4 to 5 ; pale bluish-green, sparingly spotted with pale 

 reddish-brown ; size, i.io by 0.80. 



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