BIEDS OF TUNISIA 



former becoming lighter and the latter darker in shade. The plumage, 

 however, appears to continue glossy for some time longer, until the moult, 

 which generally takes place in July or August. 



The Sardinian, or unspotted. Starling is resident in Tunisia, and 

 not uncommon in many places, both north and south of the Atlas. 

 In the neighbourhood of the town of Tunis it is not unfrequently to 

 be seen, and many of the birds are also brought to market. In 

 Central Tunisia I have found the species abundant in the vicinity of 

 Kasrin, and in Southern Tunisia I am told it is common near 

 Tatahouine. 



In Algeria and Marocco S. iinicoJor is resident, and not uncommon 

 in certain districts. In the latter country, indeed, Mr. Dodson met 

 with the species in considerable numbers near the city of Marocco, 

 as also on the coast near Eas-el-Ain, in which districts he found 

 fully-grovsTi young birds in the months of May and June. In North 

 Marocco, according to Favier, S. unicolor is both resident and migra- 

 tory, and Colonel Irby alludes to the species as being almost entirely 

 migratory in Andalucia, in South Spain (Orn. Strs. Gib. p. 131). 

 In Sicily the species is resident and breeds in the mountainous 

 districts of the interior, from whence I have specimens obtained 

 at different times of the year. In North-east Africa, apparently, 

 S. unicolor is not known to occur. S. unicolor is recorded as having 

 occurred in India, Imt this proves to have been a mistake, the bird 

 taken for it being S. nifrnf!, Hume, also an unspotted Starling, 

 although more nearly related to S. vulgaris than to the present 

 species. 



S. unicolor is to be met with, as a rule, in small colonies in the 

 neighbourhood of cliffs and rocky broken country, which afford 

 suitable shelter and convenient nesting places for the birds. Near 

 Kasrin the character of the country is eminently adapted to this 

 Starling's requirements, and many of the birds consequently breed 

 there. The nests are placed in the holes and crevices of the cliffs, and 

 are loosely constructed of dry grasses or straw, with a lining of 

 feathers. The eggs, of which the usual complement is four to six, 

 are undistingnishable from those of the common Starling, being 

 generally considerably elongated in shape and of a uniform glossy 

 pale blue-green colour. Measurements 29 x 21 mm. 



Like ,S'. vulgaris, the present species is verj' noisy and a great 



