RAVENS. 235 



magnificent member of the group. This species, which inhabits Abyssinia and the most unfrequented 

 portions of the African continent, is of about the same size as that last mentioned ; its plumage is a 

 reddish copper colour upon the top of the head, and green upon the mantle, each feather being 

 tipped with a brilliant silky black spot ; the front of the throat, upper part of the breast, and tail 

 are blue, with a steel-like gloss. The rest of the body is red, with the exception of a white band 

 upon the breast. 



These birds are met with in considerable numbers throughout the whole of Soudan ; they may 

 usually be seen flying about in large flocks, sometimes, but rarely, in pairs. Heuglin tells us that 

 though they prefer to reside upon low-lying plains, they are occasionally met with at an altitude of 

 4,000 feet above the sea, but we ourselves have never seen them at so great an elevation. During the 

 day multitudes of these gorgeous creatures may be observed disporting themselves with great vivacity, 

 running in small parties over the ground in search of food, or seeking repose and shelter from the 

 mid-day sun amongst the branches of the trees, on which they also perch morning and evening, whilst 

 the males pour forth their matin or vesper song ; should the party be alarmed, they do not seek safety 

 in flight, but hide amongst the foliage until they can again venture from their concealment. During 

 the whole time they are in search of food the neighbourhood is kept in a constant state of uproar : 

 one screams to another almost without intermission, several frequently joining in with their voices, 

 apparently for the sole purpose of rendering confusion worse confounded. As may be imagined, it 

 is no difficult matter to trace a flock of these birds, but their capture by means of the gun is attended 

 with much difficulty, as they are extremely shy, and resort to shelter at the first alarm of danger. 



The members of the second division of this group are recognisable by their delicate, arched, and 

 compressed beaks, short wings, tails of moderate length, weak long-toed feet, and scale-like plumage, 

 from which they have derived their name of SCALY GLOSSY. STARLINGS (P/ioIidauges). We 

 are only acquainted with one species — 



THE SCALY GLOSSY STARLING. 



The Scaly Glossy Starling (Photidauges leiuogastcr) is met with over a large portion of Africa, 

 and also occasionally found in Arabia. The plumage of this gaily-bedizened bird is of a rich violet 

 over the whole of the back and throat as far as the breast, these parts being pervaded by a beautiful 

 blue reflection or shimmer ; the breast and belly are white, the wings blackish brown, bordered with 

 violet, and relieved, as are all the darker portions of the body, by a copper-coloured metallic brilliancy; 

 the iris is light brown, and the beak and feet black. The young differ widely in appearance from the 

 adults, the upper portion of their bodies being striped with light and dark shades of brown, while 

 the under parts are reddish white, streaked with brown. The male is about seven inches long, and 

 twelve and a half broad ; the wing measures four inches, and the tail two inches and three-quarters. 



These birds are widely distributed throughout the countries where they reside, generally, however, 

 preferring mountainous districts ; they are eminently arboreal, and but rarely pass any length of time 

 upon the ground. In their mode of life they resemble other Starlings, but are very quiet compared 

 with the rest of their family. When in flight their plumage is extremely striking, for, instead of its 

 usual violet hue, its back glitters in the sunlight with a bright copper colour, and it is only when 

 it remains stationary that the blue shades become apparent, insomuch that those who are lucky 

 enough to bring down one of them with the gun are astonished to find how they have been deceived 

 as to the real colours. In its movements this brilliant bird is light and elegant, flying with great 

 rapidity high in the air ; when in search of a resting-place, it selects the tops of high trees, those in 

 the immediate vicinity of water obtaining a decided preference. Heuglin tells us that he has seen 



