420 



the coloration of the back is very variable ; for in one specimen from Asia Minor, in the collection 

 of Mr. Seebohm, the entire back and rump are glossed with lake-purple, and in the one above 

 described these parts are almost entirely glossed with greenish steel-blue, there being only a 

 tinge of purple on the sides of the back. Again, several of the other examples vary considerably 

 in the quantity of blue or purple on the back ; in fact there is a complete gradation between 

 the one form and the other. The only characteristics to be relied on to discriminate between 

 this species and Sturrius vulgaris are as follows, viz.:- — Stumus purpurascens always has the 

 wing-coverts and entire underparts of the body glossed with purple, whereas Stumus vulgaris 

 has these parts glossed with steel-blue or greenish steel-blue. I may take this opportunity of 

 expressing my indebtedness to Mr. Seebohm, who first pointed out to me that the coloration of 

 the wing-coverts is the only constant character. Mr. Zohrab informs me that he found the 

 present species at Erzeroom in company with Stumus vulgaris, and that he could not detect any 

 difference between the habits of the two species ; and Mr. Danford also found both species in 

 the Euphrates valley. I am indebted to Mr. Zohrab for eggs of this Starling, which are similar 

 both in coloration and size to the eggs of Stumus vulgaris. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, d , b,2 ■ Csesarea, Asia Minor, March 22nd and 23rd, 1879. c, d . Azizieh, Asia Minor, March 12th, 1879 

 (C. G. Danford). d, e,f. Erzeroom (Zohrab). 



E Mus. J. Gould, 

 a, b. Erzeroom (types of Stumus purpurascens) . 



E Mus. H. Seebohm. 



a, d. Asia Minor, May 18th, 1876 (C. G. Danford). b, d . Biridjik, Euphrates valley, February 14th, 1879 

 (C. G. D.). c, $ . Azizieh, Asia Minor, March 12th, 1879 (C. G. D.). 



E Mus. Brit. Beg. 



a. Marka-kul, Chinese High Altai, type of Stumus poltaratskyi (Dr. 0. Finsch). b. Yarkand. c. Elburz, 

 N. Persia, August 6th, 1872 (W. T. Blanford). 



