WS — tng 69 ga ey eee ee ere PP ee eS 
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AMYDRUS MORIO. 431 
shape of the tail and the pale colour of the under sido of the wing 
while in flight. 
Eggs sent by Mr. H. Jackson are a light verditer, speckled 
throughout with minute brown specks. Axis, 1” 4””; diam. 9”, 
They nest in holes of banks and inaccessible precipices. Mr. Anders- 
son states that it is a tolerably common bird in Damara Land, and 
in the adjacent countries to the north and east, as well as in Great 
and Little Namaqua Lands. It is gregarious in its habits, congre- 
gating in small flocks, and is partial to rocky localities; it some- 
times flies at a considerable height, and frequents the water morning 
and evening. It feeds on seeds, berries, insects, etc. Mr. Monteiro 
found the present species very abundant near the coast from Novo 
Redondo to Mossamedes, and Anchieta procured a pair on the Rio 
Coroca. 
Black, glossed with purple; greater quills externally rufous, 
internally fulvous ; the shafts half white and half black; “bill, legs, 
and toes black; irides bright yellow” (Andersson). Length, 10”; 
wing, 5” 6”’ ; tail square, 4”’ 8”. 
Fig. Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. pl. 91. 
414. Amyprous morto, LD. Cape Glossy Starling. 
*  Jwida morio, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 173. 
The “ Red-wing Spreo”’ is, equally with S. bicolor, a resident in 
all parts of the colony. It is partially migratory, appearing in 
certain places at certain seasons, its visits being determined by the 
prevalence of some favourite food. Of this the farmer-gardener 
and wine-grower are but too cognizant. Woe to the crop of ripe 
luscious figs that are left undefended: but few of them will find 
their way to market; but few would be the grapes that would 
reach the wine-press, was not the vineyard guarded by vigilant 
bipeds with loaded guns: the red-wing Spreo, aided by Finches, 
Sparrows, &c., would soon pick the crop. They do not, however, 
confine themselves to the neighbourhood of gardens, being extremely 
partial to the sea-coast, hopping about the rocks, even within the 
influence of the drenching spray, in search of small crustaceous or 
bruised shells ; nor do we think a bit of putrid fish would, in default 
of more cleanly fare, be rejected. 
They breed among precipitous rocks, placing their nests in crevices, 
and laying four or five large blue eggs, speckled with brown. We 
have seen eggs quite pure blue: axis, 1” 5’; diam., 10’”, 
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