STÜRÍtUS YXaaABIS , lirm
STURNUS VULGARIS, Linn.
Stalling’.
Stumus vulgarity Linn. Faun. Suec., p. 77.
vorhtt, Wolf & Meyer, Taschenb. Deutschi. Vög., to
soli!as Leach, Syst. Cat. of Indig. Mamin, and Bii
gitUatua, MacgiH. Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 595.
Turdus soUtariua. Gtnel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 834 (young).
p. 208.
i Brit. Mas , p. 18 (young).
T he distribution of tbc Starling over the British Islands is very general, but it is more plentiful in some
counties than in others. The northern position of the Orkneys and Hebrides does not deter it from breeding
there almost as abundantly as in some parts of Scotland, England, and Ireland. In selecting a site for the
purpose of incubation it confides in the poor as well as the rich for protection during the performance of
that important duty, making itself equally at home among the castellated towers of the Sovereign and on
the tiled roof of the humblest cottager. It also builds its carelessly constructed nest under the eaves of
churches, in the rain-pipes of the wayside inn and other country-houses, in decayed walnut-trees, in the
deserted holes of Woodpeckers, or in the precipitous sides of a chalk-pit. On a summer morning. Starlings
may often be seen perched, sentinel-like, on the crown of a weather-cock or on the letters indicating the
points of the compass; later in the day they may be found among the cattle in the field, ór sitting on the hacks
of sheep in the pasture. In winter such situations are partially, if not wholly, deserted, and both old and
young are (locked together and engaged in seeking their daily food in the field, the meadow, and on the seashore;
in the evening these flocks form assemblages so vast that, were I to attempt to estimate the number
a . T I 111. ____ I J J Sn k a d a . i l l . l f . iti flir t ,11 SI l*X"rtl I ill IC • T fllP rP lílC P compra
leave such i
them to be
be see»* bv
at their
been ver
being gv
Lapland
than ¡ti
of them, I should be considered to be dealing in the marvellous; I therefore
be found hereafter to others, remarking at the same time th a t I fully believe
-loud many wonderful sights in connexion with the congregating of birds may
mes of incubation, their banquetings and evening meetings. The number of
i of in my history of that bird, of Roek-birds at Handa and St. Kilda, of Gannets
ig of Ailsa, are as nothing compared to the prodigious assemblages of Starlings
i December evening in many parts of England. These social gatherings have
many British authors; and some of their accounts are given below. Besides
■er the British Islands, the Starling is also found in all parts of Europe, from
,. Mediterranean, but is more numerous in Holland and similar low countries
I question if it be not an inhabitant of Africa, from north to south; of its
and also of Madeira, the Canaries, and the Azores. I believe that it also fre-
In the temperate portions of Russia, in Amoorland, China, and Japan our
said to occur. A lengthy chapter might be written on the changes of plumage
tween youth and maturity. The transformations maybe termed wonderful; for
late from that of the adult that the young bird has been described as distinct
,rY Thrash ( Turdw solitarim). The uniform brown plumage which led to this
u t for n short period, a month or so at furthest from the time it leaves the nest.
» . replete before autumn arrives, is characterized by the feathers being spotted
•„»nd; and truly beautiful are the birds at this period. This plumage, with a
ied ; r the ensuing year, as I have had abundant proofs from numerous speci-
rund summer of their existence, when they certainly do not breed, and frequently
■ii the old lellow-liilled and brilliantly coloured birds are carrying on the task of
so different is tw yfewtW
under the Marne «f ib* i®
error, however,»
The second rao«4i. wfc
with white on a bhiefcwi
purplish black beak, is twrrkd over the ei
mens I have killed in the *wi* b »nnwirr ol
remain flocked together vviien mu- mn semr
incubation.
The flight of the Starling i- straight ami
many graceful evolutions, sweeping, dipptni
appear to be preconcerted ; for otherwise a .
on the contrary, they arc performed with (he
position by a concerted plan, only known t
in all its actions ; pert and inquisitive, it ta
or hole in which insects or their larvic a
moves quickly from one part of the field to i
Tittle behind them, the hinder birds
igorous ; and when a flock is sporting in the air, they perform
, and turning with rapidity and ease. These movements would
ash of wings, and the utmost confusion would be. the result, wlnle,
rtmost regularity—the dark cloud of birds instantly changing their
i themselves. On the ground the Starling is quick and nimble
ns its head and pries into every toft of grass and every crevice
e likely to be found. When a flock visits the mead or waste, it
lothor; those foremost in the van finding abundance of food, and
ilv risiiiir. and Ditching in front, until the whole field