252 
ORNITHOLOGY. 
with metallic green, the black band at the tips more con- 
spicuous than in the primaries. Under tail-coverts black, 
with a faint purple and green gloss. The whole bird 
absolutely spotless. 
I think no one can well doubt that S. nitens and S. 
purpurascens are distinct. From >S^. vulgaris, as well as the 
Indian race of this latter,, no one again can well question 
the distinctness of my new Starling. As to S. unicolor, the 
only specimen I possess, besides being much larger, having 
a more compressed bill, much longer breast hackles, larger 
feet and stronger claws, altogether lacks the brilliant con- 
trasts of colours so conspicuous in S. nitens. My specimens 
might have been faded, but there is no indication of these 
contrasts in La Marmora^s original description, or in Degland 
and Gerbe. I really think this is a good species. I have 
seen at least fifty specimens of it, all identical, but if there 
does not happen to be one in the Leiden Museum, we cannot 
of course expect Prof. Schlegel to admit its distinctness. 
0. H.'\ 
684. Acridotheres tristis. Linn. 
This species was plentiful in Kashmir, and was observed 
ten miles beyond Srinagar, after which it was not again 
met with till the expedition returned to the same localities. 
[G. H.-] 
706. Passer indicus, Jard. and Selby. 
This species was common in Kashmir and Ladak, but 
was never met with in Yarkand. [G. 
If the few English specimens that I possess fairly repre- 
sent the European sparrow, I entertain no doubts of the 
distinctness of the Indian bird. The latter is altogether a 
cleaner, brighter coloured, and smaller bird. [A. O. H."] 
708. Passer cinnamomeus, Gould. (PI. xxv.) 
This species was only twice met with, and this was in 
the Sind valley, Kashmir. [G. H.~\ 
It is extremely common (at elevations of from 6000 to 
9000 feet) in all parts of the Himalayas south of the first 
snowy ranges, but does not appear to penetrate to many 
places beyond these. Dr. Jerdon, I see, gives it as chiefly 
