STURNHXffl. 65 



[Genus SCOLECOPHAGUS, Swamson, Faun. Bor.-Amer. 

 ii. p. 494 (1831). 



ScolecopMgtis = worm-eating, from o-KwXTj^ -f- Qayelv. 



Scolecyphagus ferrugineus. RUSTY 



Oriolus ferrugineus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 393 



(1788). 



Ferrugmeus = of the colour of iron-rust, ferrugo, from ferrum = iron. 



One was shot near Cardiff, October 4, 1881 (Seebohm, 

 P. Z. S. 1881, p. 968) . Common in North America, breeding 

 in the northern regions, up to the limit of forest-growth, from 

 Labrador to Alaska, and migrating southwards in winter.] 



Family STURNID^E. 

 Genus STURNUS, Linnaus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 290 (1766). 



Sturnus, the name in Pliny, perhaps akin to I//G'JO, strix, turdus, trissdre = 

 to twitter (Vani9ek). The derivation from stella = a star, is clearly fanciful ; 

 " Starling" is merely the diminutive of " stare," German " Staar," from the same 

 root as sturnus. 



Sturnus vulgaris. STABLING. 



Sturnus vulgaris, Linn&us, S. N. i. p. 290 (1766). 



Sturnus vulgaris, Naum. ii. p. 187; Hewitson, p. 216; Gray, 

 p. 91 ; Yarr. ed. 2, ii. p. 40; id. ed. 3, ii. p. 44; Newton, 

 ii. p. 228; Gould, iii. pis. 53, 54; Harting, p. 30; 

 Dresser, iv. p. 405. 



Sturnus guttatus, Macg. i. p. 595. 



Common Starling, Yarr. ed. 1, ii. p. 44. 



Vulgaris = common. 



Resident or locally migrant throughout the British Isles. 

 It occurs from the Azores to Persia and Northern India ; rare 

 north of lat. 60 N. ; a winter visitant to the shores of the 

 Mediterranean, 



