134. THE STARLING.

Sturnus vulgaris, LIN. Etourenau, BUF. Der Gemeine Staar, BECH. Description.-The Starling resembles the Redwing Thrush in size and shape, being eight inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures two inches and a half. The beak is one inch long, awl-shaped, angular, somewhat flattish, and a little blunt. It is a pale yellow, tipped with brown, and in winter blackish-blue. The iris is nut-brown; the feet one inch in height, and dark flesh-colour. The whole body is blackish, having a bright purple tinge half way down the back and breast, with a bright green lustre on the rest of the body, and on the wing-coverts. The pen and tail feathers are black, speckled with grey, and, together with all the coverts, edged with light rust colour. The feathers of the head and nape of the neck are tipped with reddish white; those on the back with light rust colour, and on the outer part of the body with white. Hence the general appearance of the bird is speckled.

In the female the beak is rather blackish brown than yellow; the light-coloured spots, especially on the head, neck, and breast. are larger, and the edges of the wing feathers broader, which altogether give the bird a lighter and more mottled appearance. Old males have hardly any white spots on the forehead, cheeks, throat, and belly.

There are several varieties of this bird: as, for instance, White, Mottled, White-headed, and Grey Starlings, as well as such as are white all over the body and black on the head.

Habitat. The Starling inhabits all parts of the Old World, and frequents woods and thickets which are at no great distance from meadows and ploughed fields. In October it departs southwards in large flights, and does not return till the beginning of March. In its migration it takes shelter by night among reeds and bullrushes, from which its shrill cry may often be heard to proceed.

This bird is usually allowed to range the room; and, indeed, the only reason for keeping it in a cage is that, though keeping itself clean, it makes the aviary very dirty with its fluid excrements. An appropriate cage, which may be of any desired form, ought not to be less than two feet long, and one foot and a half broad, as the Starling is a restless bird, and will injure its plumage, if not allowed ample space for exercise.

Food. When wild, the Starling eats not only caterpillars, snails, grasshoppers, mole-crickets, and the insects which teaze the pasturing cattle, but grapes, cherries, berries, and grain of all kinds, buck-wheat, millet, and hemp seed. Its chief food, however, consists of the small meadow grasshopper, which it cats also in the larva state.

In confinement it may be fed on the universal paste, meat, insects, bread, cheese, and, indeed, anything which is not sour. A wild bird soon becomes tame if fed with ants' eggs and meal worms, and is speedily as much at home as if reared in the aviary. There are, however, some few birds so obstinate as to die of hunger, sooner than eat in captivity. The Starling is exceedingly fond of bathing, and therefore requires a constant supply of fresh water.

Breeding.-The Starlings build in hollow trees, in dovecotes, under the roofs of houses, and in wooden boxes and carthen vessels, which are often hung on trees for their accommodation. The nest is carelessly built of dry leaves, grass stalks, and feathers, and is occupied by the same pair year after year, being cleaned out when they take possession. The female lays twice a year seven greenish grey eggs. Before the first moulting the young are not so much black as a smoky fawn colour, without spots, and their beak is dark brown. Young birds, when taken from the nest, may be reared on bread and milk, and will learn to whistle an air more perfectly, and in a clearer tone, than either the Bullfinch or the Linnet. Their memory is exceedingly good, as is shown by their retaining many and various passages without confusion or mistake. In the Voigtland the peasants treat the Starlings like domestic Pigeons they take the young ones from the nest before they are fledged, and this induces the parent birds to breed three times a year. The last brood is, however, generally left, both to increase the stock, and not to discourage the old birds from returning to the same nest.

Instances have been known in which Starlings have built in the aviary, when provided with a box or pot in which to construct their nest.

Diseases.-I know of no diseases peculiar to this bird. It will live from ten to twelve years in confinement.

Mode of Taking-In autumn the Starling is often taken among the reeds, in nets specially constructed for the purpose.

About July single birds may be caught by placing an osier fish basket, baited with cherries, among the reeds to which they resort at night. In Thuringia, it is considered the best time to take them when a snow shower occurs after their arrival in March. A place, near the marshes and ditches which they frequent, is cleared of snow, and set with limed twigs, baited with earth-worms. To this the birds will allow themselves to be driven, like poultry.

Attractive Qualities.-The Starling becomes exceedingly tame in confinement, and, in respect of docility and sagacity, deserves to be compared with the dog. It is always lively, understands and obeys every gesture and motion of those with whom it lives, and though tottering about with a sober step and stupid appearance, allows nothing to escape its notice. It learns, without having its tongue loosened, to repeat words, whistle airs (a power shared by the females also), and to imitate the voices of men and animals, and the song of birds. It is, however, very uncertain in this respect, as it not only soon forgets what it has learned, but mixes up old and new lessons together, so that entire solitude and silence is essential, if it is desired to teach one of these birds to go through its performance correctly. It is remarkable that this docility is not confined to the young, but is characteristic also of old birds, which have a peculiar harp-like song of their own. As, however, is the case with all birds, this docility is very various in different individuals, and I have one now in my possession which utters its natural song in the midst of all the birds in the aviary. The Starling sings throughout the year, with the exception of the moulting season.

ADDITIONAL.-The Stare, or Starling, is in this country a wellknown bird; it is the smallest of all our resident birds allied to the Corvine, or Crow tribe, and the most beautiful as well as the most harmless, never killing other feathered creatures, or destroying their eggs, although it has been accused of doing both, and suffered on that account much persecution. MACGILLIVRAY says, that "the Starling is generally distributed in Britain, but local. It is no where more common than in the northern and western isles of Scotland, where it breeds in caves, crevices of rocks, and holes in the turf." This author, after giving an animated description of one of their breeding places, on the west coast of the Hebrides, thus continues:-"The places to which above