78 STURNID^E. 



to January, departing in March. During the autumnal migration 

 the flights are often mixed up with S. unicolor. In October, 

 1842, a Moor brought to Tangier about three hundred and fifty 

 Starlings, which he affirmed he had caught at one time in a net ; 

 about half of these birds were S. unicolor." Favier. 



In Andalucia, the Common Starling may be said, roughly 

 speaking, to come and go with the Golden Plover. The earliest 

 date noticed of their arrival was the 15th of October, the latest 

 date on which any were seen being the 1st of March. I have a 

 note of seeing many thousands passing southwards in successive 

 flights on the 28th of October. During the winter months they 

 are seen in swarms about low ground ; and the Spaniards shoot 

 immense numbers at their roosting-places in the reed-beds near 

 Vejer and Casas Viejas. Consequently, during their stay, 

 Starlings form a very cheap and, it may be fairly said, nasty dish 

 in all the ventorillas in the vicinity. 



Male. Black, with purple and green gloss, small buff tips to feathers 

 above. Head, throat, and breast with green gloss. 



Female. Similar to male, but less brightly marked. 



In ivinter, all the feathers of upper parts tipped with buff, those below 

 tipped with whitish. 



Young in first plumage. Uniform greyish brown ; throat dull white ; 

 lower parts clouded with white. Length 8^ inches. 



69. Sturnus unicolor, Temminck. The Spotless Starling". 



Moorish. Zarzor kahal (Black Starling). Spanish. Tordo. 



" This Starling is very abundant around Tangier, passing north 

 in March and returning during the month of September, many, 

 however, remaining to breed." Favier. 



The Sardinian Starling, as the species has been termed, 

 Spotless Starling being a more appropriate and distinctive name, 

 is almost entirely migratory in Andalucia ; but I have seen them 

 there in December. Not so abundant as the Common Starling, 

 they resemble that bird in their habits and note, nesting about 



