NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Red-winged Starling {Amydrus jjiorid). (Vol. I., 

 p. 182.) 



Description. — Male : glossy black with slight blue and 

 purple reflections. Wing feathers chestnut or dull red. Iris 

 dark brown, circled with crimson. Bill and feet black. 



Lengthy 12.00 ; tail, 5.75 ; wing, 6.25. 

 Female : body streaked with grey, and glossy reflections 

 not so apparent as in the male. 



Distribution. — From Cape Province up to North-East Africa. 



Habits. — Associates in flocks and breeds in colonies and In 

 pairs. Builds nests of small sticks and grass in holes and crevices 

 In rocks and under eaves of houses. Eggs, 4 to 5 ; bluish-green, 

 spotted at larger end with brown ; size, 1.45 by 0.95. 



Verreaux's Glossy Starling {Pholidauges verreauxi). 

 (Vol. I., p. 182.) 



Description. — ^Male : upper parts, throat, and chest glitter- 

 ing copper colour with violet and purple reflections. Under 

 surface pure white. Iris bright yellow. Bill and feet black. 



Length, 6.60 ; tail, 2.40 ; wing, 4.25. 



Female : dark brown above ; feathers of crown and mantle 

 with rufous edges. This rufous edging gets progressively paler 

 towards the rump. Indistinct rufous collar across the chest. 

 Throat whitish, streaked with dark brown. Outer tail feathers 

 edged with rufous. 



Distribution. — South Africa, excepting Cape Province and 

 Great Namaqualand. It ranges as far north as the Congo 

 and Zanzibar. 



Habits. — They associate in flocks, usually consisting entirely 

 of male or female birds. Migratory. They pair during the 

 breeding season only. The nest is usually built In a hole in a 

 tree. Eggs, 4 ; pale blue, slightly spotted with pale brown at 

 larger end ; size, 0.90 by 0.70. 



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