90 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST 



The next species is the Green-headed Glossy Starling 

 (L. sycobius), which ranges from the Central Transvaal 

 northwards. 



This bird is a little smaller than the lesser Green 

 Spreeuw, and has the head glossy oil-green, with a cop- 

 pery sheen in the sunlight. Its nesting habits are similar 

 to the preceding species, as are also its eggs. 



The Black-bellied Glossy Starling (L. melanog aster) is 

 the last representative of the genus we will deal with, 

 and is immediately distinguishable by its dull black 

 belly. 



It ranges from Knysna, through Eastern Cape Colony 

 (where it is, however, not common), northwards to 

 British East Africa. In the Albany Division we found 

 them nesting; the few eggs taken were invariably of 

 a plain pale greenish-blue, whereas Dr. Stark describes 

 them as being spotted with reddish-brown. It is, how- 

 ever, possible that they vary occasionally, like those of 

 the ordinary Spreo bicolor. 



A superbly beautiful bird is the Plum-coloured Starling 

 (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster verreauxi), the male of which 

 has the upper parts, head and upper chest, a bright me- 

 tallic copper colour with purplish and violet reflections, 

 the rest of the under surface being white. The female 

 is totally different, being of a mottled brown. 



This bird ranges from Natal, the Orange Kiver Colony 

 and Damaraland, through Zululand and the Transvaal 

 to the Congo on the West, and German East Africa on 

 the East. They feed chiefly on berries and insects. In 

 the Pretoria District along the Crocodile Kiver, North 

 of the Magaliesberg Kange, we found them not uncom- 

 mon, and also along the Pienaars Elver Valley. 



