Genus PASTOR, Temm.
Gry. Cuar. Bill conical, elongated, cutting, very compressed, slightly curved, the point notched.
Nostrils basal, ovoid, partly closed by a membrane and clothed with small feathers. Feet

robust. Joes three before and one behind, the external toe united at its base to the middle

one. Zarsz longer than the middle toe. Wings having the first guill-feather very short, or

almost obsolete, the second and third equal and longest.

ROSE-COLOURED PASTOR

Pastor roseus, Temm.

Le Martin roselin.

Tue birds composing the genus Pastor are exclusively inhabitants of the older-known portions of the globe,
and especially its more eastern and warmer regions. The species are pretty numerous : the only one, how

:
ever, which is known to visit the more temperate countries of Europe is the present beautiful and elegant
example, the true habitat of which appears to be the western parts of Asia and the North of Africa, particularly
Egypt and along the course of the Nile. From these districts it migrates regularly into the southern
of Italy and Spain ; seldom occurring further northward, and visiting our Island only occasionally
intervals ; but from the circumstance of its having been shot some few times in the British Isl

provinces
at uncertain

ands, it has a
claim, with many others equally scarce and equally peculiar to the warmer portions of the Continent, to

place in our Fauna. Several well authenticated accounts of the capture of this bird have appeare
pens of Mr. Selby, Pennant, and Bewick ; but the only example within our personal knowledge was
the month of May by our esteemed friend Mr. John Newman, of Iver Court near W indsor, in whose posses-
sion it now remains, exhibiting that beauty and richness of plumage which we have endeavoured to conv
our illustration.

a
d from the
one shot in

ey in

In its manners it closely resembles our Common Starling (Stunus vulgaris), congregating in the same
manner in flocks, and frequenting pasture-lands for the sake of the grasshoppers and other insects which there
abound ; often attending flocks and herds, and even perching upon the backs of cattle for the purpose of dis-
engaging the larvee which are bred beneath the skin. We are also informed that it abounds in Egypt, par-
ticularly those parts which are subject to the overflow of the Nile, attracted doubtless by the myriads of insects,
locusts, &c., which the heat and moisture call into life; and for the services it thus renders to the natives it is
held by them in great esteem. In addition to insects, it also feeds upon fruits and berries.

We are informed that the Pastor roseus chooses holes in trees, rocks or old buildings for the place of
nidification, laying five or six eggs, the colour of which we have not been able to ascertain.

The only difference of the sexes in plumage consists in the more obscure tints of the female, and her rather
smaller size; the crest also is less silky and flowing ; the young, however, differ much,—and we would here
point out another circumstance which indicates the close relationship between the present bird and the
Starling. We have mentioned above, the great similarity in their habits, manners and food; we now find an
analogous and similar change of plumage in the young: and we would here suggest to those who are more
especially interested in the Ornithology of Great Britain, whether the Solitary Thrush of Bewick, which has
hitherto been taken for the young of the Starling, may not be that of the Rose-coloured Pastor ? We mention
this as a query, because there are characters detailed in Bewick which the young of the Starling does not
possess in any state, and which more nearly agree with the young of the present bird.

The colour of the Rose-coloured Pastor is very rich and delicate ; the beak and legs more or less flesh-
coloured; the head, throat and crest, together with the neck, black with violet reflections ; back and under
parts of a delicate rose-colour ; wings and tail black with greenish reflections ; irides brown.

The young in the first autumn have the whole of the upper parts of the body of a uniform yellowish brown ;
the wings and tail rather darker; the throat and under surface whitish; the former being marked longitudinally
with brown blotches, and the head offering no indication whatever of a crest.

We have figured a male in full plumage, and a young bird of the year before its autumn moult ;—both of the
natural size.