STURNIN &, 253 
they are composed at the bottom of thorny twigs, which form 
a sort of foundation upon which the true nest is built; the latter 
consists of fine twigs, lined with grass roots; the nest is fre- 
quently of large size. The eggs, four (more rarely five) in 
number, vary most astonishingly in both ground-color and in the 
character of the markings. Typically they are longish ovals, 
a good deal pointed at one end. A common type is a pale sal- 
mon or pale greenish-white, thickly splashed and marked with 
bright or brownish-red ; the other type is greenish-white or pale 
stony color, and the markings are olive and pale purplish-brown, 
others are intermediate between these two types ; some of these 
eggs are exact counterparts, exceptin size, of eggs of Lanius lahto- 
va. In length they measure from 1:0 to 13 inches, and in 
breadth from 0:78 to 0:95, but the average is about 1°17 inches in 
length by 0°87 in breadth. 
Famizy, Sturnide. 
Bill straight, or very slightly curved, longish, compressed, subu- 
late, often angulated at the base, slightly notched at the tip or 
entire; wings long, rather pointed; tail moderate or stout ; tarsi 
short, moderate; lateral toes about equal. 
Sun-ramity, Sturnine. 
Bill moderately long, compressed, straight or slightly curved, 
entire in most; commissure usually angulated, or bent down 
towards the base; frontal plumes soft, dense, covering the base 
of the bill, which is prolonged backwards between the plumes ; 
wings with the second primary usually longest; the tail short, 
even or slightly rounded; tarsus moderately long, stout. 
Genus, Sturnus, Linneus. 
Bill long, straight, subulate, slightly depressed at the base ; 
the culmen convex ; tip obtuse, barely deflected ; nostrils basal, 
partly closed by a vaulted membrane; wing with first quill 
minute; tail even, short; tarsus moderately long; lateral toes 
nearly equal ; hind-toe long. 
Sturnus vulgaris, Lin. 
681.—Jerdon’s Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 320; Butler, Guzerat ; 
Stray Feathers, Vol. III, p. 494; Murray’s Vertebrate 
Zoology of Sind, p. 178; Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India ; 
Ibis, 1885, p. 128. 
THE CoMMON STARLING. 
Length, 9; wing, 5; tail, 3; tarsus, 1°6 ; bill at front, 1°25. 
Bill at first brown, but eventually becoming rich yellow ; irides 
brown ; legs yellow. 
Glossy black, with a pale whitish or brownish tip to each 
feather, giving the bird a pretty speckled appearance ; all the 
