36 BRITISH BIRDS 



(12) Family : Sturnidce Starlings 



66. Starling [Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus], Resident and 

 common. 



Bird. Length 8 J in. Individuals vary greatly, some having 

 more green about the head, others more purple, a fact which 

 has given rise to the unfounded view that our Isles are 

 frequented by two forms, a purple-headed 

 and a green-headed, and to the per- 

 sistent myth that they are visited by 

 the Siberian-starling, which has rarely 

 been recorded in Europe. Distinguished 

 by the glossy spangled plumage and 

 reddish-brown legs. The male, in summer, 

 Fig. 38. nas a Bright yellow beak, and the plumage 



mostly a glossy black with metallic re- 

 flections of purples and greens and blues. The feathers of the 

 upper-parts are tipped with buff, those of the flanks and 

 belly spotted whitish. The dusky wing quills have rufous-buff 

 margins. Female more spotted and with less metallic gloss. 

 After the autumn moult the metallic hues tend to be obscured 

 and the bill is blackish. The young are easily distinguished 

 from their parents by the uniform greyish-brown of the upper- 

 parts, flanks, and forebreast, and the whitish throat and belly. 

 Nest. In any convenient hole, or what will do duty for 

 such. Material : straw, grass, leaves, &c., lined usually with a 

 scant lining of feathers, hair, and other material. 



Eggs. Usually 5-7. Glossy blue, some almost white. 

 Marked occasionally with traces of reddish spots. Av. size, 

 1-19 x '84 in. Laying begins in mid April. One brood, some- 

 times two. 



(13) Family: ParidceTits 



67. Longtailed-tit [&githalos caudatus roseus (Blyth) ; Acredula 

 rosea (Blyth)]. Generally distributed and more or less stationary. 



Bird. Length 5| in Distinguished by the long tail and the 

 black and rose-colour in the plumage. 

 The head is mostly white, streaked 

 black. A ring of orange-yellow 

 round the eye. Back black mixed 

 rose-colour. Under-parts white with 

 a few dusky striations on the throat 

 and forebreast, the rest mostly tinged 

 "Fis. 39 rosy. Wing quills and tail black, 



the latter with some conspicuous 



white streaks. The inner secondaries have white margins. 



The rose-colour is wanting in the young. 



