sometimes faintly spotted with brown at obtuse end : axis, 1" 2"' ■
diam., 10"'.
They also breed in the sides of the gullies so frequent in the
surface of the country, and called sluitjes, digging holes in the clay.
When walking about oyer the newly-ploughed land, hunting for
grubs, they have much the manner of the European Starling, and
would be immediately recognized by even a casual observer as being
allied to them.
Yictorin does not appear to have met with it at the Knysna, but
mentions it as occurring in the Karroo. Mr. Rickard says it is
common at Port Elizabeth, but is not found at East London.
Captain Shelley found it in Mossel Bay, and in Fatal Mr. T. E.
Buckley procured it at Newcastle. Mr. Ayres fell in with the
species on the Vaal River, and also states that he found them on the
Bushman's River in Upper Natal, and in increasing numbers (when
the locality was favourable) all along the road to Potchefstroom in
the Transvaal, where they are very plentiful.
Mr. Ayres gives the following note on the species in Natal:__
“ These birds excavate holes for their nests in the perpendicular
banks of the Yaal River, two or three feet from the surface of the
ground, and from three to four feet deep, horizontally. The same
holes appear to be used for successive seasons, being merely pierced
further each year. The nest is composed of coarse grass, lined with
wool, hair, and feathers; the eggs are from two to six in number."
General colour, brown, changing into shot-green on the neck and
tail; lower part of belly and vent, white; base of lower mandible
yellow. Length, 11"; wing, 6"; tail, 4" 2"'.
Fig. Le Yaill. Ois. d'Afr. pi. 88.
413. A mydrus ca ffer (L.) Pale-winged Glossy Starling.
Juida fulvijpennis, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 173,
Le Yaillant states that this species inhabits the Great and Little
Namaqua Lands. We have received specimens from Colesberg and
the Free State, and Mr. Atmore found it at Aasvogelberg in the
Prince Albert division. We also found it plentiful at Nel's Poort,
flying about in small parties of from five to fifteen or twenty in
number. Although A. morio likewise inhabits that neighbourhood
in smaller numbers, I never found the two species mixed together
in one flock, and they can at once be distinguished by the square
shape of the tail and the pale colour of the under side of the wing
while in flight.
Eggs sent by Mr. H. Jackson are a light verdifcer, speckled
throughout with minute brown specks. Axis, 1" 4"'; diam. 9"'.
They nest in holes of banks and inaccessible precipices. Mr. Anders-
son states that it is a tolerably common bird in Damara Land, and
in the adjacent countries to the north and east, as well as in Great
and Little Namaqua Lands. It is gregarious in its habits, congregating
in small flocks, and is partial to rocky localities; it sometimes
flies at a considerable height, and frequents the water morning
and evening. It feeds on seeds, berries, insects, etc. Mr. Monteiro
found the present species very abundant near the coast from Novo
Redondo to Mossamedes, and Anchieta procured a pair on the Rio
Ooroca.
Black, glossed with purple; greater quills externally rufous,
internally fulvous; the shafts half white and half black; “ bill, legs,
and toes black; irides bright yellow” (Andersson). Length, 10";
wing, 5" 6"'; tail square, 4” 8"'.
Fig. Le Yaill. Ois. d'Afr. pi. 91.
414. A m y d r u s m o r io , L. Cape Glossy Starling.
Juida morio, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 173.
The “ Red-wing Spreo ” is, equally with S. bicolor, a resident in
all parts of the colony. I t is partially migratory, appearing in
certain places at certain seasons, its visits being determined by the
prevalence of some favourite food. Of this the farmer-gardener
and wine-grower are but too cognizant. Woe to the crop of ripe
luscious figs that are left undefended: but few of them will find
their way to market; but few would be the grapes that would
reach the wine-press, was not the vineyard guarded by vigilant
bipeds with loaded guns: the red-wing Spreo, aided by Finches,
Sparrows, &c., would soon pick the crop. They do not, however,
confine themselves to the neighbourhood of gardens, being extremely
partial to the sea-coast, hopping about the rocks, even within the
influence of the drenching spray, in search of small crustaceous or
bruised shells ; nor do we think a bit of putrid fish would, in default
of more cleanly fare, be rejected.
They breed among precipitous rocks, placing their nests in crevices,
and laying four or five large blue eggs, speckled with brown. We
have seen eggs quite pure blue: axis, 1" 5"'; diam., 10'".