Czossv Starlixgs. - 423 



PURPLE-HEADED GLOSSY STARLING (LamprocoHns auratus). West Africa. 

 (Illustrated from live specimen kindly lent by J. C. Marsh, Esq.) 

 Sttirniis auraiiis (Russ), Turdns auratus, Lamprotornis lucida, Lamprotornis ptilonorhynchus, Lamprotoniis atirata, J'uija 

 anrata. English dealers' name — Purple-headed Glossy Starling. French dealers' name — "Merle resplendissante." 

 German name — "Gold Glanzstar." 



The Purple-headed Glossy Starling is slightly larger than the Green Glossy Starling 

 and his European relative, and the most brilliant of his family. The head and lower body 

 are purply violet-blue, the throat is somewhat more violet, the back of the neck more blue. 

 Wings and back are metallic green, and the tail purple. All the Glossy Starlings have a 

 peculiarly flat head, but in this species the flat shape of the skull is remarkable, and the 

 large bright yellow eye adds to the bird's peculiar appearance. The first specimen was 

 purchased by the Zoological Gardens in 1856, and young were hatched tliere in 1871 

 and 1874. 



LONG-TAILED GLOSSY STARLING {Lamprotornis aeneus). West Africa. 

 (Illustration from live specimen kindly lent by J. C. Marsh, Esq.) 

 Sturnus aenetis fRuss), Turdus aeneus, Corvus aeneus viridis, Juida aenea, Urauges aeneus, Lamprotornis Eytoni. English 

 dealers' name — Long-tailed Glossy Starling. French name — "Merle resplendissante a Longue Quene." German name — 

 "Bronze Glanzstar," or " Erzglanzstar," or "Glanzelster," or " Langschwiinzige Glanzdrossel." 



The manners of the Long-tailed Glossy Starling resemble — like his form, size, and tail — 

 much more those of a Magpie than of a Starling. In size the bird is considerably larger than 

 all other Starlings, and the form of his long tail, as well as the manner of carrying it, is 

 similar to our Magpies. 



A peculiar feature of this Starling's plumage is the black head, with a sheen on the black 

 feathers like burnished brass. The body-feathers lie not quite as close as those of the 

 Purple-headed Starling, and do not therefore reflect the light from as large a surface, although 

 the purple and blue colours are fully as rich, and the long purple-violet tail, with very faint 

 wave-like bars, renders the appearance of the bird even more remarkable than that of 

 any other Glossy Starling. Some naturalists, who have observed the Long-tailed Glossy 

 Starling in his native woods, write of a song which is said to be heard at times. I have 

 kept this Starling for years, and never heard anything but a hoarse, piercing, and disagreeable 

 call. 



Male and female are said to resemble each other closely, but the female is believed to 

 be smaller. I found one day a Long-tailed Glossy Starling in a bird-shop at Brighton, and 

 purchased him because he was smaller than my old friend at home, thinking that I had 

 secured a hen-bird. When the two Long-tailed Starlings were brought together, all seemed 

 to be well as long as I was present, but I had scarcely turned my back when the smaller 

 bird was killed outright. The murderous survivor subsequently came into the possession of 

 Mr. Marsh, who, contrary to my advice, turned him loose in a bird-room occupied by all 

 kinds of birds, from Parrots to fancy Finches. There this same Starling proved quite peaceful 

 and harmless; but, for all that, I should as soon keep a cat in an aviary with other birds 

 as a Long-tailed Glossy Starling. 



Their food consists, in their wild state, of insects and fruit, the proportions depending 

 on the seasons. In confinement they will eat almost anything, from raw beef to boiled 

 potatoes, and from mealworms and crickets to pears and grapes. 



