( 159 ) 
Famity STURNIDA® (Starlings) 
These well known birds require, but little introductiov. The 
bill is straight, has a slight curve, longish in size, compressed and a 
little notched in some species ; wings long and somewhat pointed ; 
tail shortish ; tarsus short. They are social and gregarious and 
usually feed on the ground, where they are at ease and hop about 
with much facility. 
They are divided into :— 
I.—STURNINA ... .... Starlings and Mynas. 
IJ.—-LAMPROTORNIN ... Glossy Mynas or Grakles. 
Sup-FAMILY STURNIN 4 
Bill moderately long, compressed, straight in some of the species, 
in others a bit curved from the base, which is well supplied with 
soft dense plumes ; generally 2nd primaries of the wings longest ; 
tail short, a little rounded at the tip; tarsus strong and longish. 
This Sub-family comprises two groups of birds first Starlings, whose 
plumage is more uniform, black in appearance, and second Mynas 
which are more closely associated with Indian life, are pied in 
colour. ; 
GENUS Sturnus, bill longish, base a little depressed, culmen 
slightly arched ; tail short ; tarsus longish ; hind toe long. 
(681) SruRNUS VULGARIS, Common starling, is rarely met with 
in the district. Glossy Black Starling is fairly common in the north- 
west of India. 
(683) StuRNopAsToR Contra, Pied Starling, is found in the 
plains and terai; but it seldom ascends beyond a few hundred feet 
in the district. 
GENUS ACRIDOTHERES, bill is shorter, stout and compressed ; 
nares protected by short plumes ; tail more rounded in appearance ; 
tarsus and feet strong ; toes longish, claws fairly curved ; head _par- 
tially crested. Some of the species have a marked, yellow coloured 
space behind and below the eyes. 
