STURNINyE. 333 



This genus, which is composed of but a single species, with 

 somewhat the form of Temenuchus, has the gregarious habits of 

 the true Starlings and Mynas, and is more a grain and fruit eater 

 perhaps than others of this family. 



690. Pastor roseus, Linnaeus. 



Turdus, apud LiNNiEUS — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 212 — 

 Sykes, Cat. 115 — Jerdon, Cat. 167 — Blyth, Cat. 593 — Horsf., 

 Cat. 811 — T. suratensis, Gmel. — Oolabi maina, H. in the North — 

 Tilyer, H. in the South — Pariki-pitta, Tel., — Palisa, Tel., of some 

 Sura kuravi, Tarn. — Pya, in Sindh — C/iolum bird of Europeans in 

 Madras. 



The Rose-colored Starling. 



Descr. — Whole head, with crest, neck, and breast, fine glossy 

 black, with purple reflections ; wings and tail black with a green 

 gloss ; rest of the plumage pale salmon or light rose color. 



Young birds have the rose color much dashed with pale brown 

 and fuscous, and the head not so glossy ; and the young of the 

 year are more or less earthy brown, paler beneath, and without a 

 crest. 



Bill orange yellow at the base, then pinkish, and brown at the 

 tip ; irides deep brown ; legs dusky reddish. Length 9^ inches ; 

 wing 5%; tail 3 ; bill at front |£; tarsus 1—. The tongue is bifid 

 at the end and somewhat fringed. 



The Rose-colored Starling is found throughout the greater part 

 of India, most abundant in the South and South-west, rare towards 

 the North and North-east, and, apparently, not known in Assam 

 and Burmah, unless P. Peguanus, Lesson, be the immature state 

 of this bird. 



It usually makes its appearance in the Deccan and Carnatic 

 about November, associating in vast flocks, and committing great 

 devastations on the grain fields, more especially on those of the 

 Cholum or Jowaree {Andropogon sorghus), whence its familiar name 

 in the South. Mr. Elliot, in his MSS Notes, quoted in my Catalogue, 

 says : "Is very voracious and injurious to the crops of white 

 Jowaree, in the fields of which the farmer is obliged to station 



