THE OCCURRENCE OF A PURPLE-WINGED STARLING IN FOOCHOW

On December 15th, 1958, a rarely seen starling was shot on Nantai Island, Foochow. It is identified as the purple-winged starling, Sturnus vulgaris menzbieri Sharpe (Syn., S. v. poltaratskyi Finsch). This is the first record that this species of starling has been collected from Fukien.In China, Sturnus vulgaris menzbieri breeds in Sinkiang. It migrates to the north to Siberia, to the west to Middle Asia, and to the south to Southern India. It is found in Kansu, Tsinghai as migrant. Occasionally, it was found in North China (recorded from Hopeh and Shantung), and has never been recorded from South China. Therefore, its occurrence in Fukien is considered unusual and is prodably due to flying astray during migration.