STUEX1D 1 :. 517 



work, form one of the best-defined families of the Passeres. I 

 exclude from this family the Grackles (Eulabes) and the Glossy 

 Starlings (CaZornt*), which have hitherto been associated with the 

 true Starlings by nearly all writers. These two genera differ in 

 so man/ important matters, as has been already pointed out, that 

 I cannot look upon them as in any way closely allied to the 

 Stiirmdce. 



The Sturnidce are spread over a considerable portion of the Old 

 World. A few species are migratory, but the majority, especially 

 of the Indian species, are resident. They are almost without 

 exception gregarious. They frequent trees, but the main portion 

 of their food is obtained on the ground. They breed in holes of 

 trees and buildings, a very few only making nests of straw in 

 branches, and they all lay unspotted eggs of various tints of blue. 



The plumage of the young of the Sturnidce is in most cases 

 streaked below. This is most evident and most developed in 

 tSturnus ; but many other genera show indications of streaking 

 in various degrees. On the other hand, some genera appear to 

 have the young quite plain. The series of nestlings in the British 

 Museum is necessarily very imperfect, since little attention is paid 

 by collectors to the acquisition of young specimens in down. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Wing pointed, secondaries falling short of 



tip by more than length of tarsus. 

 a'. Crest extremely long, much exceeding 

 tarsus in length and reaching to upper 



back PASTOR, p. 518. 



b'. Crest moderate or obsolete, always shorter 



than tarsus. 



". Feathers of forehead short, lying flat 

 and directed backwards ; entire head 

 feathered. 

 '". Bill stout, as long as head, broad 



and bluntly tipped. 

 l . Covering membrane of nostril 

 plumed only on posterior half; 



plumage glossy, speckled STURNL T S, p. 519. 



I 4 . Covering membrane of nostril 

 plumed throughout ; plumage 



neither glossy nor speckled .... SPODIOPSAR, p. 524. 

 b'". Bill slender, shorter than head, nar- 

 rowing regularly to a sharp point. 

 c 4 . Middle rectrices longer than the 



outermost. STURNIA, p. 525. 



rf 4 . Middle rectrices shorter than the 



outermost AGROPSAR, p. 530. 



b". Feathers of forehead lengthened, pro- 

 jecting forward; region of eye naked. AMPELICEPS, p. 531. 



b. AN 'ing blunt, secondaries falling short of tip 



by less than length of tarsus. 

 c. Crest much longer than tarsus, reaching 



to upper back TEMEXUCHUS, p. 532. 



