46 STURNID^E 



PHOLIDAUGES 



as is also the way in which the purple plumage is assumed, partly 

 by a direct moult, and partly by a change of feather." 



Young male. Eesembles the adult female, the change to the 

 metallic plumage of the adult male being due, partly to a moult, 

 but chiefly to an alteration in the structure of already existing 

 feathers. 



Distribution. South, East and South-west Africa. This species 

 has not been recorded from Cape Colony or Great Namaqua Land, 

 but occurs not uncommonly in Damara Land, and ranges on the 

 west coast as far north as the Congo, where it meets with the 

 typical P. leucogaster. Towards the east it is found not uncom- 

 monly in Natal, Zululand, and the Transvaal, being partly resident, 

 but chiefly migratory in these localities. It also occurs in the 

 Orange Free State. It ranges throughout Matabili Land, Mashona- 

 land, and the Portuguese Territory, and extends across the Zambesi 

 into Nyasaland and German East Africa as far north as Zanzibar ; 

 the typical P. leucogaster being again found in North-east Africa 

 and Abyssinia. 



Habits. These beautful Starlings, although not so common as 

 some of the other Glossy Starlings in Natal, are by no means 

 rare in Autumn and Winter. At this season they are almost 

 invariably in flocks, consisting entirely of either male or female 

 birds. Towards Spring they appear to migrate northwards, some- 

 times after they have paired. 



During their stay in Natal they feed chiefly on berries and 

 small fruit, but also on insects, and particularly upon the flying 

 termites which they take on the wing, darting upon them from 

 the top of some convenient bush or other advantageous station. 

 In the Transvaal many of these birds are resident, particularly in 

 the Eustenburg district, where they breed ; at the same time the 

 majority appear to migrate towards Spring. When migrating or 

 moving for any distance, they fly in flocks and usually at a con- 

 siderable height. 



Andersson remarks that in Damara Land this species is 

 migratory " arriving at the approach of the rainy season, and 

 gradually leaving as the country dries up, though I have observed 

 a few individuals remaining long after the general emigration was 

 over, and these may probably stay throughout the year. The 

 exquisitely coloured males arrive first, and, as far as I have 

 observed, associate but little with the sombre females, from which 

 they differ so marvellously in appearance." 



