GLOSSY STARLINGS. 349 



off as if they had been attacked by gad-flies. It must not be supposed that these 

 birds confine their attention to cattle, since they perform the same kind offices for 

 rhinoceroses, elephants, antelopes, and probably almost all the larger African 

 mammals. 



Although not loud, the notes of the ox-peckers are harsh and grating ; and 

 are always uttered when a flock approaches cattle to feed. Nothing appears 

 to be ascertained as to the breeding-habits of these birds. In the figured species 

 the general colour of the upper-parts is greyish brown; the wings being black, 

 the tail brown, the throat grey, the under-parts pale fulvous, and the beak red. 



* Glossy Stablings and Grackles. 



Family EuLABETW.E. 



Whereas the true starlings and their allies have no trace of bristles at the 

 rictus of the gape, and lay uniformly coloured eggs, the members of the present 

 African and Asiatic family possess such bristles, and lay spotted eggs. Moreover, 

 the members of the present family are mainly or entirely arboreal, instead of hunt- 

 ing for a large portion of their food on the ground. 



African Glossy The most beautiful members of all the starling-like birds are 



starlings. undoubtedly the African glossy starlings, of which a group of three 

 species is represented in our coloured illustration. All the African glossy starlings 

 are neatly-built birds, with the beak strong, of moderate length, compressed, 

 swollen at the base, and notched ; the nostrils being situated about the middle. 

 The wings are large, the feet long and strong, and the tail of variable length ; 

 while the plumage is remarkable for its brilliant gloss, being generally adorned 

 with shades of bluish green, violet, purple or copper-colour. Such species as have 

 long graduated tails may be included in Lamprotornis, while those in which the 

 tail is short and squared are classed as Laraprocolius. The glossy starlings are 

 gregarious birds, ranging all over Africa, and feeding on vegetable as well as 

 animal substances. Uttering harsh clamorous notes, they are rapid in their flight 

 and lively in their movements ; and while generally dwelling high up in the 

 branches of the forest trees, they descend at times to pick up insects and other 

 food on the ground. From the retiring h:iliits of most of the species, they are 

 but seldom seen. They either build in holes of trees, or make large cup-shaped 

 nests, in which are deposited five or six spotted eggs. 



Long Tailed This species (L. ceneus), which is the one represented in the upper 



Glossy starling. fig ure of our coloured Plate, is a denizen of West Africa, although 

 also ranging into the southern, eastern, and central districts of that continent. 

 Measuring about 20 inches in total length, of which two-thirds are occupied by the 

 long, graduated tail, this bird has the head, chin, and upper part of the throat 

 black, with a golden lustre ; the upper-parts and wings being dark metallic green, 

 and the upper wing-coverts ornamented with small black spots ; the middle of the 

 throat, as well as the upper tail-coverts, tail, and under-parts being dark purple- 

 violet, marked with darker cross-bands : while the middle of the breast is copper- 

 red The upper wing-coverts have black spots. The iris of the eye is yellow ; 



