STARLINGS. 



538 



genus Buphaga, or ox-peckers, so called on account of their Iiabits of frequenting 

 the backs of the cattle in order to extract the grubs which infest the ruminants. The 

 Swedish naturalist, Anderson, who traveled in South Africa, has the following note on 

 the habits of the soutliern ' beef-eaters ' {li. qfricanus), as they are sometimes called : 

 " The arrival of these birds is announced by a sharp cry ; and the next moment they 

 may be seen in a little Hock descending fearlessly on and amongst the cattle, which 

 are at first much alarmed, and run about in wild confusion, just as they do when 

 troubled with gadflies; but these ajjprehensions are soon dispelled, ami exchanged for 

 sensations of evident pleasure, as the ox-peckers run over their backs, sides, and bel- 

 lies, like woodpeckers upon trees, except when an ox, by an occasional jerk or sudden 



Fm. 265. — Buphagus crythrorhijnchus, ox-pecker. 



twist, appears to indicate that the elaws of the bir.l have cause.l sonietliing like jiain 

 by touching some spot where the skin of the animal ha])pen8 to be tender." The ac- 

 companying cut shows tlie northern species, B. >.r;/t/iror/ii/iidiii.% in full activity. 



Finally, we will have to s.ay a few words about the hill-niyna ((Jniculajai'una), 

 figured on tlie plate facing page 516. The hill-niynas are strictly confined to the Ori- 

 ental region, and are common in Iiulin. They are well-known birds, gregarious as 

 most starlings, and easily tamed ; like the Kuropean stinling they can be taught to 

 repeat words very distinctly. Their color is black, with purpii.sh reflections, and tiieir 

 head is .idorned with sonu- curiciu'* flatt.iud yiU.iw wattles. The Indian .species was 



