16 STURNIDJE BUPHAGA 



Family II. STURNID^L 



Bill an elongated cone, moderately strong, the sides compressed, 

 the culmen slightly curved or straight, the edges of both mandibles 

 smooth or the upper one simply notched. Nostrils nearer the 

 commissure than the culmen and not concealed by plumes or 

 bristles. No rictal bristles. Tarsus scutellated anteriorly, covered 

 by two smooth laminae posteriorly. Wings long and pointed, the 

 first primary small. Tail of twelve feathers, long or short. Sexes 

 nearly alike. Plumage of nestling usually streaked. One moult 

 in the year. 



The Sturnidse are distributed over the greater portion of the 

 Old World. They are generally gregarious ; some are migratory, 

 but the majority of the African species are more or less sedentary 

 in their habits. They build in holes of rocks, buildings, and 

 trees; a few, including the South African Wattled Starling, make 

 open nests in bushes. They lay blue eggs, sometimes plain but 

 often spotted. They are generally omnivorous as regards their food. 

 Sixteen species and subspecies occur in South Africa, including two 

 which may be very naturally placed in a different subfamily, 

 Buphaginse. 



Subfamily I. BUPHAGIN^E. 



Bill broad, moderately strong, the culmen slightly depressed and 

 curved to the tip, which is entire ; the sides of the lower mandible 

 broad, the gonys short and ascending. Nostrils basal, small, and 

 partly closed by a membrane. Wings long and pointed. Tail long 

 and graduated, the end of each feather pointed. Tarsi short and 

 strong. Toes moderately long, strong. Claws curved and sharp, 

 the hind claw not as strong as the claw of the middle toe. 



Genus I. BUPHAGA. 



Type. 

 Buphaga, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 154 (1766) B. africana. 



Bill strong and broad at the base, the culmen depressed towards 

 the base, swollen towards the extremity and curved to the tip, which 

 is entire ; the lateral sides of the lower mandible broad, projecting 

 posteriorly, and rounded ; the gonys moderately strong and curved 

 upwards. Nostrils basal, lateral, the opening small and partly 

 closed by membrane. Wings long and pointed ; the first quill very 



