524 STURXID^E. 



534. Sturnus purpurascens. Gould's Starling, 



Sturnus purpurascens, Gould, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 219; id. B. Asia, v, 

 pi. 44 ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p. 440 ; id. Cat. B. M. x'm, p. 37. 



Coloration. Resembles S. humii. 



Gloss. As in S. poltaratzskii, but the green of the back confined 

 to a small median portion only ; the other parts of the back suf- 

 fused with purplish red ; scapulars brilliant purplish red, not blue. 



The colours of the bill, &c. are not recorded. 



Length about 9; tail 2'8 ; wing 5'4; tarsus 1-2; bill from 

 gape 1'3. 



Distribution. A rare visitor to India. I have examined a speci- 

 men procured by Col. Biddulph at Rawalpindi, and another from 

 the G-urgaon district, Punjab, procured by Mr. W. N. Chill in 

 February. 



This species appears to be a permanent resident in the south- 

 east portion of Europe and in Asia from Asia Minor to Kandahar. 



Genus SPODIOPSAR *, Sharpe, 1889. 



The genus Spodiopsar differs from Sturnus in having the cover- 

 ing membrane of the nostril entirely plumed, and in the plumage 

 being without gloss. There is, moreover, no difference in Spodi- 

 opsar between the summer and the winter plumage. The culmen 

 of the bill is slightly curved and not perfectly straight as in 

 Sturnus. The sexes are alike. 



The head of Spodiopsar cineraceus resembles so closely that of 

 Sturnus menzbieri in structure, except in the particulars above 

 noted, that it is not necessary to figure it. 



535. Spodiopsar cineraceus. The Grey Starling. 



Sturnus cineraceus, Temm. PL Col. ii, pi. 556 (1835) ; id. $ Schleg. 



Faun. Jap., Aves, p. 85, pi. 45 ; David fy Oustalet, Ois. Chine, 



p. 361. 

 Poliopsar cineraceus (Temm.}, Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p. 476; id. Cat. 



B. M. xiii, p. 41. 



Coloration. Forehead, crown, nape, and sides of neck black, the 

 forehead streaked with white; lores, ear-coverts, and round the 

 eye white streaked with black ; chin and throat dark ashy brown 

 with paler and indistinct shaft-streaks ; breast ashy, slightly paler 

 than throat ; sides of the body and thighs rufous ashy ; abdomen 

 and under tail-coverts white; back, scapulars, rump, and upper 

 tail-coverts drab-brown, with a broad white bar across the rump ; 

 tail drab-brown, with broad white tips to all the inner webs of the 

 feathers except the middle pair ; wing-coverts and tertiaries bronzy 

 brown ; remainder of wing blackish, the primaries narrowly, the 



* Sharpe (Ibis, 1889, p. 580) has proposed this name for the genus recently 

 named by him Poliopsar, a term which had already been given by Cassin to some 

 American birds. 



