22 STURNIDiE 



Family II. STURNIC^E. 



Form somewhat Thrush-like, but the shape of the tail is more variable ; 

 upper parts generally strongly glossed with metallic shades ; rarely any 

 yellow on the feathers, which colour when present, as in Cosmopsarius 

 regius, is confined to the under parts. 



Bill black, brown, red or yellow, not very stout, rarely any notch on 

 the upper mandible ; no rictal bristles. Wing of ten primaries ; fairly long, 

 but when closed never reaching to the end of the tail. Tail of twelve 

 feathers, square or graduated. Tarsus moderate, generally longer than the 

 culmen. Plumage usually strongly glossed with blue or greeu in adult, 

 and streaked or blotched in young bird. 



In their habits they are gregarious, frequenting mostly the open country 

 to feed on insects, slugs and worms, and at times upon fruit, when it is ripe. 

 Breed in holes of trees, cliffs, Ac, and more rarely among the boughs of 

 trees. Eggs, generally five in a clutch, are usually uniform pale blue, but 

 are occasionally spotted and very rarely white. 



The family is confined to the Eastern Hemisphere aud comprises some 

 150 species, of which I here record 57. Of these, three are now extinct, 

 two are introductions from the ludo-Malay Regions and one (the Common 

 Starling) from England. 



KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES. 



a. Hind claw weaker than the claw of the middle toe ; all the 

 claws similarly bent into nearly perfect semicircles ; bill red 

 or red and yellow Biiphagince. 



h. Hind claw stronger than the claw of the middle toe ; no red 



on the bill Sturnidce. 



Subfamily I. BUPHAGINiE. 



Bill red, or yellow with the end red, strong and broad at the base, with 

 the culmen slightly depressed and curved at the tip ; lower mandible short 

 not reaching to the tip of the bill ; nostrils exposed and rounded. Wing 

 long and pointed. Tail shorter than the wing, but fairly long aud wedge- 

 shaped, with the end of each feather pointed. Tarsi strong, of the same 

 length as the middle toe ; lateral toes equal in length, the outer one united 

 to the middle one by a membrane, inner one free ; claws much compressed, 

 curved and acute ; hind claw not so strong as that of the middle toe. 



The subfamily is confined to Africa and comprises only two species, 

 which belong to one geuus. 



