STARLINGS. 
347 
considerable numbers in the British Islands. In the summer of 1875, vast 
numbers visited Villa Franca; a small flock making its appearance on June 3rd, 
and alighting on the high ruined walls within the castle, and being followed in 
about half an hour by another flock of about one hundred. In a short time 
many people assembled at the places, and soon witnessed another sight, for 
towards evening appeared many thousands of these starlings, which, joining 
with first comers, stopped there till dusk, when they dispersed in numerous 
troops over the open country. On the following day from twelve to fourteen 
thousand rose-coloured starlings arrived and took entire possession of the 
castle; driving away by the force of superior numbers the common starlings, 
pigeons, and all other birds that nested in the ruins, and proceeding to 
fill every available hole and fissure. The birds began to lay about the 17tli 
of June, the eggs being of a uniform white colour with a greenish tinge. 
The young were hatched about the 10th July, and were fed exclusively upon 
locusts. The old birds foraged in the country in flights of from ten to twenty, 
or even forty, returning in the same united fashion to their offspring. The rose- 
coloured starling is one of the most sociable and cheerful of birds. “ Always 
busy and restless,” says Signor de Betta, “ it may be seen running here and there, 
accompanying every movement with its cries. The song of the male is a continual 
chatter, mixed with harsh and disagreeable sounds ; both one and the other begin 
in the early morning, continuing for a length of time, and renewed at intervals 
after feeding. The males, always at strife, may be seen pursuing one another and 
exchanging blows with their bills, while in the most curious attitudes and with 
their long black crests elevated and expanded. They exhibit great affection for 
the hen birds which, never leaving the nest during the period of incubation, are 
protected and fed by them with all assiduity.” These birds will not unfrequently 
associate with the common starling; and they retain their vivacious character even 
in captivity, where they form some of the most charming of aviary birds, darting 
to and fro on rapid flights or singing from some favourite perch. The male in 
summer-plumage has the head, crest, wings, and tail black, with a blue or violet 
gloss; the back and breast being of a beautiful rose colour, which is suffused with 
brown in the winter plumages. The young are uniform light greyish brown above, 
with the wings and tail dark brown edged with buff ; the throat and lower parts 
being dull huffish-white. 
There are numerous other genera of the family into the consider¬ 
ation of which the limits of our space forbid our entering. Among 
these are the true mynas ( Sturnia ) of India, distinguished from Sturnus by 
the beak being more slender, shorter than the head, and narrowing to a point; 
and differing from the allied Agropscir by the middle tail feathers being longer 
than the outer pairs. The pied starling ( Sturnopastor ) of India, as well as the 
African wattled starling ( Dilophus ), likewise belong to this group. 
Among the most useful of South African birds, from their habit 
of feeding on the parasites which infest domestic and other cattle, the 
ox-peckers are very unlike starlings in general appearance; from which they are 
distinguished by the beak being stout, broad at the base, and nearly straight, 
with the nostrils bare. The wings are long, with the first quill very short, and 
Other Genera. 
Ox-Peckers. 
