STURNID^ AMYDEUS 27 



glossy black with reflections of blue and steel-green ; under sur- 

 face of body, axillaries and under wing-coverts blue-black ; the 

 abdomen without much gloss ; under surface of wing-quills orange- 

 chestnut with black tips. 



Iris dark brown with an outer circle of crimson ; bill and feet 

 black. 



Length 12-00 ; wing 6-25; tail 5-75 ; tarsus 1-30; culmen 1-15. 



Atnydrus morio. 



Adult female. Like the male, but the head, neck, throat and 

 chest are grey streaked with black. 



Young. Duller in colour and without gloss. 



Distribution. South, East, Central and North-east Africa. 

 Kesident, or only subject to local migrations, in most parts of Cape 

 Colony, Natal, the Orange Free State and the Southern Transvaal. 

 It frequents both the coast and the interior, being most abundant in 

 rocky and mountainous localities. It has not been recorded from 

 Great Namaqua or Damara Land. 



Habits. This common and well-known species remains in flocks 

 all the year round and usually breeds in colonies but occasionally in 

 single pairs. Their presence is easily recognised by their loud, 

 prolonged and musical whistling note which is constantly uttered 

 both during flight and when at rest. On the wing they are as 

 readily distinguished by their bright chestnut wing-quills and wedge- 

 shaped tails, the females by their greyish heads. During the 

 greater portion of the year these Starlings feed upon larvae and 

 insects, but during the fruit season they devour grapes, figs and 

 other soft fruit. They are in consequence not looked upon with a 

 favourable eye by farmers and fruit growers. I have seen them 

 catch mature locusts on the wing as well as flying termites, and on 



