= 
306 . AVES. 
Oxyryncuus, Tem. 
The conical and pointed beak of Xanthornus, but it is shorter than 
the head. 
The species known, Oxyr. flammiceps, T.; O. cristatus, 
Swains. Ill. IM, 49; Col. 125, has a partly,red tuft on the head, 
like several of the Tyrants. The 
Dacnis, Cuv.—Pirt-Pirs, Buff. 
Resemble Xanthorni in their conical and short beak. They con- 
nect that subgenus with Regulus. The species known, Mot. cayana, 
L.; Enl. 669; Vieill. Gal. 165, is a small blue and black bird. [See 
App. XXII of 4m. Ed.) 
Sturnus, Lin, 
The Starlings only differ from the Xanthorni in having a beak 
that is depressed, especially near the point. 
S. vulgaris, L.; Bnl. 75; Naum. 62. (The Common Starling. ) 
Black with violet and green reflections, every where spotted 
with white or fawn colour. The young male is of a brown grey. 
It is found in great numbers throughout the whole of the eastern 
continent, -feeds on insects, and is of use to cattle by relieving 
them from their attacks. It flies in large and crowded flocks, 
is easily tamed, and may be taught to sing and even to speak. 
It leaves France in winter. Its flesh is disagreeable.(1) 2 
We can find no sufficient character to enable us to distinguish 
(1) Add the Sturnus unicolor of the south of Europe, Tem. Col. 3; Vieill. Gal. 
pl. xci;—St. capensis, Enl. 280, from which the St. contra, Albin. Ill, 21, does 
not differ, but which is from the Indies, and not from the Cape;—St. militaris, Enl. 
113;—St. ludovicianus, En]. 256, the same as the Alauda magna, Gm. Catesb. 1, 
33, or the Stournelle @ collier, Vieill. Gal. pl. xc, and Wils. II, xix, 2;—the Etour- 
neau @ camail rouge (Oriolus ruber, Gm.) Sonner. Nouv. g. pl. Ixviii, or Amblyram-’ 
phus tricolar, Leach, Zool. Miscel. pl. xxxvi; a beautiful species from the steppes 
of Buenos Ayres, and not from India, as stated by Sonnerat. 
N.B. The St. cinclus forms, as we have seen, a genusallied to the Thrushes ; 
the St. sericeus, Brown, III, 21, is rather a Gracula, Cuy.; the St. collaris is the’ 
same as the Fauvette of the Alps (accentor). The St. carunculatus should, I think, 
go along with Philedon. 
The species of Osbec, Hernandes, Kc. are not well authenticated; as to those of 
Pallas, it is to be regretted that we have no figures of them. . The Stournes of 
Daudin must be replaced with the Thrushes, or the Philedons, and his Quiscales, 
partly with the Gracule, Cuv. and partly with Cassicus. Daudin, generally speak- 
ing, completed the confusion of this genus, sufficiently entangled by his prede- 
cessors. ‘ 
