7QO The Sparrow-like Birds 



holes picked by these birds in the buffalo or other game, but only in the cattle." 

 Of the Red-billed species (B. erythrorhynchd) of Natal, Mr. Ayres also says: 

 " These are among the useful birds, their food consisting of the acari or ticks 

 which they pick from the cattle. They run and climb all over an ox, much as 

 a Woodpecker would about the stem of a tree. The cattle, for the most part, 

 much enjoy the operation, and may be seen with tail partially extended, stand- 

 ing perfectly motionless. These birds are mostly seen in small companies, 

 varying from three to ten ; their flight is rather heavy and their notes harsh but 

 not loud." Nothing seems to be recorded regarding their breeding habits. 



THE GLOSSY STARLINGS AND CRACKLES 



(Family Eulabelidce) 



As pointed out under the last family, the present group is but slightly dif- 

 ferentiated from it, almost too slightly it would seem, since the only "charac- 

 ters " are the possession of rictal bristles, strictly arboreal habits, and the pro- 

 duction of spotted eggs; otherwise they are Sturnida. Like the true Starlings 

 they are confined to the Old World, occurring especially in Africa, India, and 

 thence through many of the islands to Australia, the typical genus being Eulabes, 

 the members of which are variously known as Crackles, Hill, Talking, or Wattled 

 Mynas. Approximating ten or twelve inches in length, they are known by the 

 glossy black plumage and (with one exception) by the presence of fleshy yellow 

 or orange wattles or bare spaces on the sides of the head. In addition to these 

 characters it may be mentioned that they have a thick, slightly curved bill, 

 very weak rictal bristles, rather blunt wings, and a short, nearly square tail. 

 They are chiefly found in hilly forests, where they keep mostly to the tops of the 

 highest trees, never descending to the ground, and feeding chiefly on fruits. 

 They have a great variety of natural notes, and as they are easily taught to 

 repeat words and various sounds, they are frequently kept in confinement by 

 the natives of India, making very engaging pets. For a nesting site they select 

 a natural cavity in a tree which is slightly lined with grass or leaves, and wherein 

 they deposit usually two eggs, which are pale blue or green, "spotted and splashed 

 with purple and chocolate-brown." Perhaps the best-known species is the 

 Southern Hill Myna (E. religiosa) of the hilly and well-wooded portions of 

 southern India and Ceylon; it is known by having two elongate, bare patches 

 on the sides of the head, which are rich yellow in color, by a white patch at the 

 base of the primaries, and citron-yellow legs and feet and orange-yellow bill. 



The Glossy Starlings, or Tree Stares (Calornis or Lamprocorax] , comprise 

 upward of twenty forms, which range from India through the Malay Peninsula 

 and islands, the Philippines and New Guinea to northern Australia. Lacking 

 the wattles, so conspicuous in the last genus, they have a long, sharp-pointed 

 wing and a fairly long, considerably graduated tail ; the plumage is black, often 

 beautifully glossed with green, purple, violet, and lilac. Perhaps the most 



