108 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



Key to Ceylon Siurnidse. 



A. — A noticeable long crest in adults ; no nude skin on side 

 of head. 



(1) Wings pointed ; throat and breast in adults black. 



Pastor roseus (Rose-coloured Starling). 



(2) Wings blunt ; lower parts reddish buff. 



Temenuchus pagodarum (Brahminy Mynah). 



B. — Feathers of crown and nape only moderately elongated ; 

 a patch of bare skin on side of head. 



(1) Throat and fore-neck gray with white shaft- 



streaks ; bare skin confined to a triangle behind 



the eye. 



Sturnornis senex (White-headed Mynah). 



(2) Throat and fore-neck black ; a large naked patch 



behind and beneath the eye. 



Acridotheres tristis melanosternus (Common Ceylon 

 Mynah). 



Pastor roseus. 



The Rose-coloured Starling. 

 Pastor roseus (Oates, Vol. I., p. 518 ; Legge, p. 673). 



Description. — Summer : Head, neck, throat, upper breast, 

 wings, and tail glossy black ; feathers of the wing -lining black, 

 edged with white ; thighs, a patch on each flank, and the 

 under-tail coverts black, tipped with white ; rest of plumage 

 clear rose colour. 



In winter the black feathers of the head, crest, neck, and 

 throat are tipped with buff ; the feathers of the back and 

 breast are rosy at the base and brown at the ends ; while the 

 crest is not nearly so well developed ; at the end of winter the 

 dull margins of the feathers wear off. 



Females appear to be slightly paler, as a rule, and with a 

 shorter crest. 



In nestling birds the whole plumage is sandy-brown, the 

 feathers of the crown have darker centres, and there is no 

 crest ; the lower plumage is paler ; the foreneck is streaked 

 with brown ; the wing and tail quills are dark brown, edged 



