THE BE UNION STABLING. 421 



in hungry flocks, would be by no means persona grata to the 

 planters. Perhaps they purposely aided its exit, as the Sheep- 

 raisers of the Falkland Islands destroyed the Antarctic Wolf ; 

 the very stupidity of the birds would go heavily against them, as 

 it has done with many other island species. There is also 

 reason, from the structure of the leg and foot, for supposing that 

 the Crested Starling was largely a ground bird. It would thus 

 be exposed to attacks from enemies other than man. Keunion 

 forming portion of the "French Indies" eventually became 

 largely peopled with Hindoos, and the Indian Mynah {Acrido- 

 theres tristis) was introduced. A burly wideawake bird, the 

 Mynah soon multiplied on the island, being an alert destroyer of 

 grasshoppers and similar prey. It may have indirectly destroyed 

 the Fregilupus by sharing its food too liberally, or by feasting on 

 its eggs and young. Any one who has ever kept a Mynah will 

 recollect the avidity with which these almost carnivorous birds 

 swallow pieces of raw meat. The rapidity with which the 

 English Sparrow, introduced into the colonies, has driven away 

 the native birds well illustrates this suggestion. 



Cadit rem. The Keunion Starling has vanished utterly ; 

 even as a museum specimen it is exceedingly rare, and the 

 following census seems to comprise all of them : — 



1. Specimen in Paris Museum, figured and described by 

 Buffon, and mentioned by Levaillant. 



2. Fine bright example, also at Paris, sent in 1833 by Mr. 

 Nivoy. Examined and measured by the late Dr. Hartlaub many 

 years ago. Said to measure eleven inches in total length. 



3. 4. Spirit specimens in the Paris collection. The soft 

 parts of Fregilupus being so imperfectly known (the palate and 

 tongue being apparently the only parts hitherto examined), one 

 of these might well be dissected. This could be done without 

 destroying it, actually enhancing its value. 



5. Example in Levaillant's collection. Perhaps the specimen 

 of the "Madagascar Hoopoe," which Latham, in 1783, mentions 

 as having been only 9f in. long. The bird figured by Latham 

 was itself apparently immature, judging from the brownish tint 

 of the upper plumage. See his ' General History of Birds,' 

 vol. iv. 



6. Specimen said by Levaillant to have been preserved in the 



