2.34 cassell's book of birds. 



The TRUE GLOSSY STARLINGS {Lamprocolii). In their general conformation these birds 

 resemble our Common Starling ; the beak, which is of moderate size, slightly curves towards its tip, and 

 the upper mandible reaches a little beyond the lower. The wings extend about halfway down the rather 

 short tail, which is straight at its extremity. The feet are short and powerful, the toes large, and the 

 claws with which they are furnished of moderate proportions. All the members of this group are 

 decked in the most gorgeous apparel, of which a metallic green is usually the predominating tint, and all 

 have a more or less satin-like gloss upon their plumage. 



THE BRONZE-COLOURED GLOSSY STARLING. 



The Bronze-coloured Glossy Starling (Lamp-ocoliits chalybcus), an inhabitant of North-Eastern 

 Africa, possesses an attire of such extraordinary lustre, that words are almost inadequate to express the 

 appearance it presents when glittering in the rays of a tropical sun. The plumage is bronze-like in 

 tint, except upon the sides of the head, the lower part of the belly, and wings, these parts being blue, 

 as are the tips of the feathers upon the shoulders ; the dresses of the male and female are alike, but 

 the young are of a metallic green upon the back, and underneath of a deep brownish grey, almost 

 entirely devoid of brilliancy. This species is about ten and a quarter inches long and seventeen 

 and a half in breadth ; the wing measures five and a half, and the tail three and three-quarter 

 inches. The Bronzed Glossy Starlings are to be met with in great numbers in their native land, 

 more especially in the forests, which they seem to prefer to the less densely wooded districts ; they 

 also occasionally frequent the more open country, living for the most part in pairs, and only congre- 

 gating in small flocks after the termination of the breeding season. They are brisk and lively, endowed 

 with all a Starling's alacrity, both upon the ground and in the trees ; their flight alone is peculiar, being 

 distinguished by a noiselessness that plainly indicates the velvety softness of their wings. Little can be 

 said as to their other endowments — their song is extremely insignificant, and their call-note a most 

 unpleasing sound. To say the truth, if these birds were not so splendidly decorated they would have 

 little to recommend them to our notice, nature seems to have been so lavish in this one particular 

 as to have deemed any other charm unnecessary. Those who have seen the Bronze Starling in its 

 native woods describe it as flashing upon their astonished sight like a bright and unexpected gleam of 

 sunshine, its feathers during life reflecting every ray of light as does a looking-glass ; but they lose this 

 intense brilliancy very shortly after death. This beautiful creature has, we believe, as yet never been 

 brought to Europe. 



THE GOLDEN-BREASTED GLOSSY STARLING. 

 The Golden-ereasted Glossy Starling (Notauges chrysogaster), another species belonging 

 to this group, is an inhabitant of North-Eastern Africa, and is distinguishable from its congeners by 

 the greater thickness and inferior gloss of its plumage, as well as by its slender beak, short tail, 

 comparatively strong high tarsi, and long toes. This bird is not more than eight inches long and 

 thirteen and a half broad ; the wing measures four inches, and the tail two inches and a half. In the 

 old male the brow and upper part of the head are of a greyish green, the mantle, neck, throat, and 

 breast blackish green, intermingled with bright brown ; the rump is brilliant steel blue, the belly and 

 thighs rust red, but entirely devoid of lustre. The bridles are black, the eyes brown, the beak yellow, 

 and the feet blueish black. The young are dark brownish green upon the back, and reddish brown 

 below the region of the throat, which is rather deeper in shade than the breast. 



THE SUPERB GLOSSY STARLING. 

 The Superb Glossy Starling (Notauges supcrbus) may certainly be regarded as the most 



