STURNIN^E. 321 



The Starlings may be said to grade from the Crows through the 

 Australian Piping-crows, some of which much resemble large Star- 

 lings. On the other side they pass into the Finches, through the 

 shorter-billed Agelaina>, or Maizers of America, such as Dolichonyx 

 and others. 



Sub-fam. Sturninje. 



Bill moderately long, compressed, straight, or slightly curved, 

 entire in most ; commissure usually angulated, or bent clown 

 towards the base; frontal plumes soft, dense, covering the base of 

 the bill, which is prolonged backwards between the plumes ; wings 

 with the 2nd primary usually longest; the tail short, even, or slightly 

 rounded; tarsus moderately long, stout. 



This family comprises the Starlings of the Old Continent, and the 

 Mynas of India, a group considerably developed throughout the 

 Indian region. They are all more or less familiar, sprightly in their 

 habits, loquacious, and easily domesticated. 



The first group is that of the true Starlings, which are limited in 

 number, and comprise two forms, the one distinguished by its 

 nearly black color, and the other by its pied plumage, combined 

 with some slight details of structure. 



The typical Starlings are a very limited group, comprising only 

 two species, one of which has but lately been discriminated, and 

 is not very satisfactorily distinct. Both the European species occur 

 in India, Northern Africa, and Western Asia. 



Gen. Sturntjs, Linnaeus. 

 Char. — Bill long, straight, subulate, slightly depressed at the 

 base ; the culmen convex ; tip obtuse, barely deflected ; nostrils 

 basal, partly closed by a vaulted membrane ; wings with 1st quill 

 minute ; tail even, short ; tarsus moderately long ; lateral toes 

 nearly equal ; hind toe long. 



681. Sturnus vulgaris, Linnjeus. 



Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. .210— Blyth, Cat. 580— Horsf., 

 Cat. 800 — S. indicus, Hodgson — S. splendcns, Temm. — Telia- 

 maina, Hind. — Tilova., at Ghazeepore — Nakshi-telia, at Agra. — 

 Tilffiri, in Cashmere. 



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