STTJBNUS. 523 



Bill blackish horn in winter, lower mandible narrowly edged 

 white ; legs and feet dark hazel ; iris deep brown (Butler). 



Length about 9; tail 2'6 ; wing 5; tarsus 1'15 ; bill from 

 gape 1-3. 



Distribution. A winter visitor to the Himalayas as far east as 

 Dibrugarh in Assam, and to the plains of India as far south as the 



Fig. 155. Head of menzlrieri. 



atitude of Baroda. In the British Museum there is, however, a 

 specimen procured by Burgess in the Deccan, and another from 

 the Tvveeddale collection marked Madras; 



Hume states that this species breeds in Kashmir. Scully on the 

 other hand informs us that it passes through G-ilgit at the spring 

 and autumn migration, and that a few remain during the winter in 

 that place. He does not appear to have noticed it in summer. 

 This Starling retires in summer to Siberia and portions of Central 

 Asia. 



533. Sturims poltaratzskii. Finscfi's Starling. 



Sturnus poltaratzskii, Finsch, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 712 ; Sharpe, Ibis, 

 1888, p. 439; Scully, J. A. S. B. Ivi, pt. ii, p. 86: Sharne. Cut. 

 B. M. xiii, p. 36. 



Sturnus nobilior, Hume, S. F. viii, p. 175 (1879). 



Coloration. Resembles S. humii. 



Gloss. Head, throat, neck, tail, and wings purplish red ; hind 

 neck, back, and breast bronze-green ; scapulars and rump purplish 

 blue ; abdomen purplish red. 



Bill yellow in summer, the base of the lower mandible horn- 

 grey ; feet reddish brown ; iris brown (Finsch). 



Length about 8-5 ; tail 2'6 ; wing 4-8 to 5-2 ; tarsus 1-2 ; bill 

 from gape 1*3. 



Distribution. The only specimens that I have seen of this Star- 

 ling from India are, one from Mardan in the Punjab on the 

 borders of Cabul, another from N".\V. India, and one from Siud. 

 The first is in the Hume collection, the second in the Gould col- 

 lection, the third was collected by Blanford on the Manchhar. 



This Starling occurs westwards as far as Europe in winter, and 

 in Siberia and Central Asia in summer. Finsch found it breeding 

 on lake Marka-Kul in the Chinese High Altai at 5000 feet in 

 June. 



