INSESSORES. STURNUS. 339 



Genus STURNUS, Linn. STARE. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill strait, conical, with the culmen flattened ; rather ob- 

 tuse ; the base of the upper mandible advancing upon the 

 front ; the point very slightly depressed. Gape angulated. 

 Nostrils basal, lateral, and partly closed by a prominent rim. 

 Wings long, the first feather very short, the second and third 

 the longest in the wing, and of nearly equal length. Tarsi 

 strong, longer than the middle toe. Feet with three toes be- 

 fore and one behind ; the middle toe being united to the outer 

 one at the base. Claws tolerably strong, curved, and sharp. 



Stares commonly associate and travel in societies. Insects 

 form their chief food, but they also eat grain and other seeds. 

 In addition to the general moult in autumn, they are subject 

 to a change in the colour of the bill and legs, and in the 

 lustre of their plumage, on the approach of spring, or the 

 season of pairing. Two species of this genus are now found 

 to inhabit Europe, Sturnus vulgaris and Sturnus unicolor ; 

 the latter lately detected in Sardinia. Other species are also 

 found in Asia. 



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