322 birds of india. 



The Common Starling. 



Descr. — Glossy black, with a pale whitish or brownish tip to 

 each feather, giving the bird a pretty speckled appearance; all the 

 clothing feathers long and lanceolate. In very old birds the specks 

 are said to disappear altogether, or nearly so. The young bird is 

 dull brown. 



Bill brown at first, for several moults, finally becoming rich 

 yellow ; legs yellow ; irides brown. Length about 9 inches ; wing 

 5 ; tail 3 ; bill at front through the feathers li; tarsus If. The 

 clothing feathers become longer and more pointed at each moult. 



The common Starling is found, during the cold weather only, 

 in the North-western Provinces of Bengal, as low down as 

 Monghyr, South of the Ganges, and perhaps still lower ; and as 

 far as Purneah, at. least on the North bank of the Ganges. It is, 

 however, much more common further to the North-west, and I have 

 never seen it out of the valley of the Ganges. It associates in 

 large flocks, feeding both on grain, and on insects among cattle, 

 associating with the common and Bank Mynas, and roosting 

 on high reeds at night. Theobald found it breeding in Cashmere, 

 in holes of bridges, of tall trees, &c. ; the eggs pale clear bluish- 

 green. 



682. Sturnus unicolor, Marmora. 

 Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 211 — Blyth, Cat. 581. 



The Glossy Black Starling. 



Descr. — Glossy black, never having any white specks to the 

 feathers ; the clothing feathers still more elongated than in the 

 common Starling. Length 9^ inches ; wing 5^ ; tail If ; bill at 

 front 1. 



This Starling, (found in the South of Europe ; particularly in 

 Sardinia, in Africa, and Western Asia,) is said by Adams to be 

 common in Sindh, the Punjab, and in Cashmere, and to build in 

 holes of decayed trees. It is possible that Theobald may have 

 been referring to this species, when he describes the breeding of 

 the former bird, but Adams says that St. vulgaris is also common 

 in Cashmere. 



