LAMPROTORNIS AUSTRALIS 63 



ground iu search of insects, which, with berries, constitute 

 its chief food. It is, however, somewhat omnivorous in its 

 habits ; and I have observed its stomach to contain much 

 sand. It is a very shy bird, but very hvely, jerking its body 

 and tail (the latter of which it can raise quite perpendicularly), 

 and uttering all the wliile harsh, clamorous notes." 



Sir Andrew Smith discovered the species in the country 

 to the north of Kurrichaine, and remarked : " When flying, 

 the wings appear out of proportion to the body, and gives 

 the appearance of a size to the bird which in reality it does 

 not possess." It is fairly abundant in the Orange Kiver 

 Colony, and has been met with in Cape Colony at Colesberg 

 by Arnot. Buckley calls it, " very common in the north of 

 the Transvaal, building under the eaves of the houses in 

 Pretoria," and Mr. T. Ayres writes: " Burchell's Glossy Star- 

 ling is the commonest of the Grackles on the River Limpopo, 

 and next to it, in point of numbers comes Lamprocolius pliani- 

 copterus ; both species are very shy and difficult to get within 

 range of, but both may often be seen feeding on the ground in 

 company, frequently also together with Francolins and other 

 birds." According to Stark's notes: "This large and very 

 beautiful Glossy Starling appears to be everywhere rather shy 

 in its habits, much more so than are the majoritj' of its con- 

 geners." He further writes : " Usually they breed in holes of 

 trees, frequently at a considerable height above the ground. 

 The nests consist of a quantity of dry grass and straw, lined 

 with hair, wool and finer grass. The eggs are usually four 

 in number, bluish green, sparingly marked with spots of pale 

 reddish brown. They measure 1'3G x 0'95." 



