STUENID^l PHOLIDAUGES 43 



bique, into the Eastern Transvaal, Zululand, and Natal ; extending 

 into Eastern Cape Colony and ranging as far west as Knysna. 

 This species is not very common in the Eastern Cape Colony, but 

 is a resident, breeding both in the neighbourhood of Grahamstown 

 and King William's Town. In Natal and Zululand it is fairly 

 abundant and resident, as it is in the Eastern Transvaal. 



Habits. This Glossy Starling is much shyer and more retiring 

 in its habits than its congeners, and confines itself very much 

 to the thicker portions of the coast bush, rarely venturing into 

 the more open country. Its peculiarly loud and harsh notes are 

 frequently heard when the bird itself is invisible. When not 

 breeding these Starlings are nearly always in small flocks that 

 hunt through the bushes in search of berries and fruit, in addition 

 to various seeds and insects. Like most birds they seem to be 

 particularly fond of termites. In Spring they separate in pairs, 

 and proceed to look for a convenient nest-hole in the trunk or limb 

 of a tree, frequently taking possession of the old nesting-place of a 

 Barbet. Into this they carry a few small sticks, pieces of straw, 

 and dry grass, and a much larger quantity of hair, wool and 

 feathers. About the end of September, in Natal, three or four eggs 

 are laid, of a pale blue-green, spotted sparingly with pale reddish 

 brown. They are somewhat elongated in shape, and measure 

 about 1-05 x 0-75. 



Genus VI. PHOLIDAUGES. 



Type. 

 Pholidauges, Cabanis} Mus. Hein. i, p. 198 (1850). ...P. leucogaster. 



Bill rather short, shorter than the tarsus, and slightly curved, 

 the mandibles nearly equal ; culmen rounded. Nostrils oval, open, 

 in a groove. Wings rather long, the first quill rudimentary, the 

 second, third and fourth nearly equal and longest. Tail short, 

 much shorter than the wing, and nearly square. Tarsi short and 

 strong, scutellated anteriorly. Feet moderately strong, the lateral 

 toes equal. Claws short, curved and sharp. 



Plumage of male and female markedly different, that of the male 

 being highly glossy and metallic, that of the female dull and of 

 obscure colours. Young males resemble the females. Occasionally 

 a female (?) will produce one or two metallic plumes, but whether 

 this indicates an accidental variation, or that old females ultimately 

 assume a plumage like that of the males, is not known. 



