STURNIDAE 56 1 



the female being brown and buff above, and wliitish belo\\- with 

 dusky striations ; Culoniis and Ajilmiis are usually dullish green; 

 while the extinct FrfijihipuR rdi-iv^ was ashy-brown, grey, and 

 white. Falculia is white with blue-black back, wings, and tail. 

 It frequents trees or streams, . and utters plainti-^^e, melodious 

 notes. Buphaija is dull -brown, with fulvous rump and lower 

 surface. The bill is commonly black throughout the group, but 

 is sometimes red, pinkish, bluish, greenish, orange, or yellow ; 

 the feet also vary in colour. Albinos are rather frequent. 



This Family occupies almost all the Old '\^'orld, but not 

 America proper, though Slur 11. us rulffaris has strayed to Greenland ; 

 the headquarters lie in the Indian and Ethiopian Eegions, wherein 

 several forms have a vcr}- restricted distribution. Instances of this 

 are Chantornis of the Sula Islands, Scissirosirum, Jinodes, and 

 Streplocitia of Celebes, Hagiopsar of the Dead Sea and Sinaitic 

 districts, HurtlavMus and FdJruIia of Madagascar, Sarcops of the 

 Philippines, 31'iini of Papuasia, Jlfdannpi/rrhys and Jllncruropisar 

 of New Guinea and its islands, Aplonis of the Pacific and the 

 Tenimber group. Frfi/iluptin, of which only a few examples exist 

 in collections, was conKned to Pi,eunion, Necropsar is an extinct 

 form from Eodriguez. Caluniis alone inhabits Australia. 



Lainprotornis, SpocUopsar, and the Eulabetidae in general, rarely 

 leave the trees they haimt ; on the other hand, some forms, as 

 our Starling, spend much time upon the ground, or roost in huge 

 flocks on shrubs, reeds, and the like. The habits are wary, and 

 seldom as sociable as those of our British species, hills being often 

 preferred to more wooded districts or the neighbourhood of houses. 

 Adhiopsar reaches an altitude of seven thousand feet. The flight 

 is strong, straight, and rapid, though heavier in Buphaga ; while 

 flocks of Starlings turn, sweep along, and gyrate in remarkable 

 fashion, and soaring is not uncommon. The more terrestrial forms 

 walk and run excellently, often stopping suddenly to probe the soil 

 for worms or larvae, which, with insects generally, and molluscs, 

 provide the chief sustenance. A large amount of fruit is also con- 

 sumed, including berries and seeds ; frogs and, as some say, callow 

 nestlings are also devoured; Pastor, Dilophus, and Acridotheres 

 destroy locusts; Fvlnhes and its allies prefer vegetable food; 

 Buphaga, is termed Ox-pecker or Ehinocei'os-bird, from clearing 

 ticks off those animals. Certain species disgorge nutriment for 

 their young. The voice is commonly varied and pleasing, becoming 



VOL. IX 2. 



