STARLINGS. 347 



considerable numbers in the British Islands. In the summer of 1875, vast 

 numbers visited Villa Franca ; a small flock making its appearance on June 3rd, 

 and alighting on the high ruined walls within the castle, and being followed in 

 about half an hour by another flock of about one hundred. In a short time 

 many people assembled at the places, and soon witnessed another sight, for 

 towards evening appeared many thousands of these starlings, which, joining 

 with first comers, stopped there till dusk, when they dispersed in numerous 

 troops over the open country. On the following day from twelve to fourteen 

 thousand rose-coloured starlings arrived and took entire possession of the 

 castle; driving away by the force of superior numbers the common starlings, 

 pigeons, and all other birds that nested in the ruins, and proceeding to 

 fill every available hole and fissure. The birds began to lay about the 17th 

 of June, the eggs being of a uniform white colour with a greenish tinge. 

 The young were hatched about the 10th July, and were fed exclusively upon 

 locusts. The old birds foraged in the country in flights of from ten to twenty, 

 or even forty, returning in the same united fashion to their offspring. The rose- 

 coloured starling is one of the most sociable and cheerful of birds. "Always 

 busy and restless," says Signer de Betta, " it may be seen running here and there, 

 accompanying every movement with its cries. The song of the male is a continual 

 chatter, mixed with harsh and disagreeable sounds ; both one and the other begin 

 in the early morning, continuing for a length of time, and renewed at intervals 

 after feeding. The males, always at strife, may be seen pursuing one another and 

 exchanging blows with their bills, while in the most curious attitudes and with 

 their long black crests elevated and expanded. They exhibit great affection for 

 the hen birds which, never leaving the nest during the period of incubation, are 

 protected and fed by them with all assiduity." These birds will not unfrequently 

 associate with the common starling ; and they retain their vivacious character even 

 in captivity, where they form some of the most charming of aviary birds, darting 

 to and fro on rapid flights or singing from some favourite perch. The male in 

 summer-plumage has the head, crest, wings, and tail black, with a blue or violet 

 gloss ; the back and breast being of a beautiful rose colour, which is suffused with 

 brown in the winter plumages. The young are uniform light greyish brown above, 

 with the wings and tail dark brown edged with buff; the throat and lower parts 

 being dull huffish- white. 



There are numerous other genera of the family into the consider- 

 ation of which the limits of our space forbid our entering. Among 

 these are the true mynas (Sturnia) of India, distinguished from Sturnus by 

 the beak being more slender, shorter than the head, and narrowing to a point ; 

 and differing from the allied Agropsar by the middle tail feathers being longer 

 than the outer pairs. The pied starling (Sturnopastor) of India, as well as the 

 African wattled starling (Dilophus), likewise belong to this group. 



Among the most useful of South African birds, from their habit 



of feeding on the parasites which infest domestic and other cattle, the 



ox-peckers are very unlike starlings in general appearance ; from which they are 



distinguished by the beak being stout, broad at the base, and nearly straight, 



with the nostrils bare. The wings are long, with the first quill very short, and 



