STURNID^E. 161 



and which is now preserved in the Museum of Zoology at Cam- 

 bridge, and I am of opinion that it is certainly referable to the 

 present species. 



Mr. Layard informs me that he believes the bird included in 

 his Catalogue under the name of Juida aurata is also identical 

 with L. phosnicopterus. ED.] 



195. Spreo bicolor (Gmel.). Spreo Glossy Starling. 



Le Spreo, Levaillant's Ois. d'Afr. pi. 88. 



Juida bicolor, Layard's Cat. No. 342. 



Spreo bicolor, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 6352. 



I have not observed this bird to the west of Lake 

 N garni and to the north of the Orange River ; but it was 

 brought from the Lake-regions by Messrs. J. & H. 

 Chapman, and to the south of the Orange River it is 

 common everywhere. 



This species is gregarious in its habits, being often 

 seen in immense flocks and seeking its food on the 

 ground amongst the herds of cattle. During the vin- 

 tage it resorts to the gardens and vineyards, where it 

 commits great ravages among the grapes ; its flesh is 

 much esteemed. Its notes are similar to those of the 

 European Starling. It breeds in a variety of situations, 

 frequently taking forcible possession of the nests of other 

 birds, such as the Woodpecker, Bee-eater, and Swallow, 

 or establishing itself under the roof or in a hole in the 

 wall of some friendly farmer's homestead ; in default of 

 any of these conveniences, it contents itself by deposit- 

 ing its eggs in a hole in the ground. The eggs are five or 

 six in number, and of a greenish-blue colour spotted with 

 brown. 



M 



