( l8 7 ) 
The Black and White Indian Starling. 
T H E Figure here reprefented is of the natural Size of the Bird. 
Albin has figur’d it, but has confounded the two whitifh Lines 
together, that fhould be diftinguifbed feparately, the one on the Hinder- 
part of the Head, and the other at the Bottom of the Neck, behind 
which he has made them meet in one, contrary to their Politico in the 
Bird, as well as to his own Defcription. He has aifo forgot to mention 
the Whitenefs of the outer Webs of the outermofl Tail-Feathers, as well 
as fame other Particulars. 
The Bill is pretty fharp at the Point, moderately thick at its Bafe, a very little 
bowed downward, and of a Yellow, inclining to Orange-Colour. The Fore¬ 
head adjoining to the Bafe of the Bill above is White, which Colour extends from 
the Bafe of the upper Chap, all round the Eyes, forming a Plat of White behind 
- the Eye as big as the Nail of one’s Finger, from which a narrow whitifh Line paffes, 
from Eye to Eye round the Hinder-part of the Head. The Top of the Head above 
the white Line is Black, as are the Throat and Neck all round ; the Black on the 
Throat reaches lower than it doth behind on the Neck. The black Colour on the 
Head and Neck fhines with a greenifh Glofs. The Back, Rump, Wings above, 
and the Tail, are of a blackifh or dufky-brown Colour, without any fhining Glofs. 
The Ridge of the Wing is whitifh next the Bread ; the outer Edges of the greater 
Quills are of a lighter-brownifh Colour than the other Parts ; the Row of Covert- 
Feathers next above the Quills, have their Tips White, and form a fomewhat 
broken Line of White acrofs the Wing. The Edge of the outer Web of each 
of the outer mod Feathers of the Tail is White. The Bread, Belly, Thighs, and 
Covert-Feathers beneath the Tail, are White; a Line of brownifh White paffes 
alfo from the Sides of the upper Part cf the Bread, and forms a Ring round 
the lower Part of the Neck behind. The Legs and Feet are formed like thofe 
of other Birds of the fame Tribe, and are of a reddifh Brown, or dark Flefh- 
Colour. 
This Bird was preferved in the Collection of the late Mr. Dandridge , and 
has been already figured by M ; r. Albin in his Hi/lory of Birds , Vol. III. B . 20. 
As I have already given my Reafons for re-publifhing the Birds in Mr. Dandridge’s 
Collection, I fhall be filent here. It was brought from Bengal , where it is called 
Contra ; but it being apparently of the Starling- Kind, I thought proper to give it the 
above Name. 
The 
