370 STURNID-E.

The eggs of this species are generally somewhat elongated ovals,
a good deal compressed towards one end, and not uncommonly more
or less pyriform. They are glossy, but in a good light have the
surface a good deal pitted. They are entirely devoid of markings,
and seem to have the ground one uniform very pale sea-greenish
blue. They appear to vary very little in colour, and to average
generally a good deal smaller than those of the Common Starling.

They vary in length from 1*02 to 1*19, and in breadth from O78
to 0-87; but the average of twenty eggs is T13 by 0-83.*

531. Stnrnus minor, Hume. The Small Indian Starling.
Sturnus minor, Hume; Hume, Cat. no. 681 bis.

Mr. Scrope Doig furnishes us with the following interesting note
on the breeding of S. minor in Sindh:—

" Last year I mentioned to my friend, Captain Butler, that I
had noticed Starlings going in and out of holes in trees along the
' ISTarra' in the month of March, and that I thought they must be
breeding there; he said that I must be mistaken, as 8. vulc/aris
never bred so far south. As it happens we were both correct—he
in saying S. vulc/aris did not breed here, and I in saying that
Starlings did. My Starling turns out to be the species originally
described from Sindh as Sturnus minor by Mr. Hume; and as I
have now sent Mr. Hume a series -of skins and eggs, 1 trust he will
give us a note on the subject of our Indian Starlings. In February
I shot one of these birds, and on dissection found that they
were beginning to breed; later on, early in March, I again dis-
sected one and found that there was no doubt on the subject,
and so began to look for their nests; these I found in holes in
kundy trees growing along the banks of the Narra, and also
situated in the middle of swamps. The eggs were laid on a
pad of feathers of Platalea leucoroclia and Tantalus leucoceplialus,
which were breeding on the same trees, the young birds being
nearly fledged; the greatest number of eggs in any one nest was
five. The first date on which I took eggs was the 13th March,
and the last was on the 15th May.

" The eggs are oval, broad at one end and elongated at the other;
the texture is rather waxy, with a fine gloss, and they are of a pale
delicate sea-green colour.

* STURNUS PORPHYRONOTUS, Sharpe. The Central-Asian Starling.

This species breeds in Kashgharia, and visits India in winter. Dr. Scully
writes:—" This Starling breeds in May and June, making its nest in the holes
of trees and walls, and in gourds and pots placed near houses by the Yarkandis
for the purpose. It seems to make only a simple lining for its hole, composed
of grass and fibres. The eggs vary in shape from a broadish oval to an elongated
oval compressed at one end ; they are glossy and, in a strong light, the surface
looks pitted. The eggs are quite spotless, but the colour seems also to vary a
good deal—from a deep greenish blue to a very pale light sea*blue. In size
they vary from 1*1 to 1'22 in length, and fromO'80 to 0*86 in breadth ; but the
average of nine eggs is 1*19 by 0*83."