136 BRITISH BIRDS. WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



Sea. The most westerly recorded instance of its breeding in large numbers is in 

 Lombardy. At Villafranca, near Verona, in 1875, g rea t numbers bred in the castle, 

 having followed in the wake of a flight of locusts. They have not been known 

 to breed in Palestine ; but Tristram describes enormous numbers passing through 

 on their spring migration. Eastwards they breed in South Russia and the 

 Caucasus, Turkestan, and South Siberia, as far east as Lake Saisan. They have 

 been observed in North-west Persia and Afghanistan in spring. They winter in 

 India in enormous numbers, and are occasionally found as far south as Ceylon. 

 The most easterly locality recorded of this bird is the Andaman Islands, where 

 flocks were seen by Col. Tytler, in January (" Ibis," 1867, p. 331). At this season 

 of the year, and on the spring and autumn migrations, they have occurred in 

 almost every country of Europe, from Spain in the west to Sweden in the north, 

 and have been known to stray as far south as North Africa, one or two examples 

 having been recorded from Egypt and Algeria." 



In Great Britain the first recorded specimen was killed at Norwood, in Surrey, 

 and was described in 1743; since then it has been met with in almost every 

 county ; the latest occurrence being of one observed on an apple-tree at Greatham, 

 near Liss, in Hampshire, on May 4th, 1896, and secured by its observer (Vide 

 Zoologist, 1896, p. 382). 



The male in breeding-plumage has the head, neck, and breast glossy purplish 

 black ; the wings including the coverts, the tail and coverts of both surfaces glossy 

 greenish black, and the remainder of both surfaces pale salmon-rose ; the bill is 

 also rose-coloured, but more orange towards the base which is blackish ; the feet 

 brown ; iris bright brown. The female is altogether duller, and has a somewhat 

 smaller crest. After the autumn moult the black feathers are tipped with greyish 

 brown, and the rosy feathers with dusky brown, the crest being also undeveloped ; 

 but a gradual change takes place in the spring. The young are very similar to 

 adults in winter plumage, but show no trace of black or rose-colour on the feathers, 

 their wing- and tail-feathers have buff edges ; the bill is browner, and the feet are 

 more flesh-tinted. 



Like the common Starling this bird is eminently gregarious in its habits. 

 Jerdon observes that " it usually makes its appearance in the Deccan and Carnatic 

 about November, associating in vast flocks, and committing great devastations on 

 the grain fields, more especially on those of the Cholum or Jowaree (Andropogon 

 sorghusj " ; he then quotes the following from Mr. Elliot's manuscript notes : 

 " Is very voracious and injurious to the crops of white Jowaree, in the fields of 

 which the farmer is obliged to station numerous watchers, who, with slings and a 

 long rope or thong, which they crack dexterously, making a loud report, endeavour 



