( 19 ) 
i:’he Chi'nese Starling or Black-Bird, 
T his Bird is call’d by our Sailors, who bring it from China^ a 
Martin ; but it being not of Kin to that Genus, I have taken 
the Liberty to change its Name, it being nearer of Kin to the Starlings 
than to any other European Bird j tho’ it comes nearer to the Minor be- 
fore defcrib’d, and is about the Bignefs of the leffer Sort of Minor 
the Bill is pretty thick towards the Head, ftraight, grows gradually more 
Bender, and ends in a Point, of a yellow Colour ; yet the lower Man- 
dible, towards the Head, inclines more to Red j the Noftrils are low on 
each Side, pretty near the Slit of the Mouth ; the Eye is of a fine Gold 
or Orange-colour ; it hath on the Forehead, juft at the Bafis of the Bill,, 
a remarkable Tuft of Feathers, which it can ereift at Pleafure in form 
of a Creft ; the Crown of the Head is flat ; the Head, Neck, whole- 
Body, Wings and Tail,, are of a black Colour, not glofly and fhining 
with fplendid Colours, as in the Minor, nor quite fo dark as our common 
Black-Bird, but feems to incline a little to a dirty Blue ; the Bottoms o£» 
fome of the firft Quills, next the Belly, are White, which form a white 
Spot in each Wing ; tho’ the Tail is Black, yet the fide Feathers are 
tip’d with White ; the Legs and Feet are of a dull Yellow j the Claws ‘ 
of a light Colour. 
This Bird being newly dead, the Iris of the Eye retaining its Luftre, . 
was given to me by a Gentleman who brought it from Chma. I have- 
fince feen fome of them alive in Bird-Merchants Hands, from whom I 
drew out Lines to improve my firft Draught, They are brought to us ■ 
with much Difficulty, many dying for one thaft efcapes in the Voyage. - 
They take to Whiftling and Talking pretty well; This Plate reprefetits 
the natural Bignefs of the Bird. We fee it frequently drawn in Pidures^ 
brought to us from China-, but no Natural Hiftorian, that 1. know of, 
hath given us any Draught or. Defcription of it. 
