2 P ar f = 440 
x y - x 4 
as | PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 349 
ness of the flanks. With only three specimens, however, it is impossi- 
ble to say whether there is a constant difference between the northern 
and southern birds or not. 
Sturnia violacea (Bopp.). (203) 
This is the same as Temminck and Schlegel’s Sturnia pyrrhogenys, of 
which Henson’s collection contains six specimens. Details in table 
below. 
Already Cassin pointed out the great individual variation in the col- 
oration of the adult males (Perry’s Jap. Exp., 11, p. 220). Capt. Blakis- 
ton (Chrysanth., 1882, p. 475) has further enlarged upon this subject as 
follows: 
I secured a good series of examples, showing the variation in the amount of brown, 
chestnut, or chocolate on the head and neck of the male, from its almost entire 
absence in the youngest—none, of course, younger than birds born last year— 
the colored ear coverts, and a few specks onthe throat of those of medium age, to 
the entire side of head, lower part of throat, and slightly round the back of the 
neck of the most aged specimens. I also noticed that the testicles of all the male 
birds I opened were nearly black. 
Wilh. Blasius (Zeitschr. Ges. Orn., 1886, pp. 123-124) has also some 
important remarks to the same effect, and the series now before me, 
consisting of birds collected by the Perry expedition, by Blakiston, 
Jouy, and Henson, fully substantiates the above statements, though 
I can not see upon what evidence the above gentlemen consider the 
birds with but little chestnut for younger individuals and those with 
very much for very old ones. It may be so, but there is no positive evi- 
dence.* This point could be easily settled, however, on young birds 
far advanced in the molt. Field ornithologists, therefore, should be 
on the lookout for male birds in August and September with a few 
feathers of the young plumage left—just sufficient to clearly prove 
the age—and should be particularly careful in determining the sex 
with absolute certainty by dissection. 
Lurge particular care in this instance, as there seems to be some 
doubt still in regard to the sexual difference in this species and its 
nearest allies. Mr. A. Hume (Stray Feath., vii, 1878, p. 393) says of 
the closely allied Sturnia sturnina (PALL.) (=dawurica) that ‘in the 
perfect adult the plumage of the two sexes is quite alike,” and in 
regard to the present species Dr. W. Blasius (Zeitschr. ges. Ornith., 
I, 1886, pp. 121, 123, and 124) clearly indicates as his belief that 
the dull brown birds are all young, and that both males and females 
. 
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“2 
are essentially alike, the only difference between the sexes being, 
*There is, however, one instance on record which, to a certain degree, seems to 
corroborate the above opinion. Dr. Blasius (tom. cit., pp. 121, 122) describes a winter 
bird from Celebes (specimen C) which is evidently a male in the glossy plumage 
with only a few brownish feathers of the young dress left. The chestnut ear patch 
is mixed with white, but judging from the description it has more chestnut color 
than U. 8. Nat. Mus. No. 96124, killed in May. 
a : 
