eight and ten o'clock in the morning, few coming after that hour,
except when the wind is high, and then the flight is protracted
until noon; if very stormy, they do not come at all. They probably
commence their flight very early in the morning. If circumstances
have delayed their migration, they make up for lost time by an increase
in numbers.
In Orkney they exisl in immense quantities, and may be seen in
flocks of thousands. They belong also to the Channel Islands.
They are partially migratory, or rather moveable, in some places
at some seasons.
So early as the latter end of the month of June, as soon, in fact,
as their voung have been sufficiently educated, which has been known
to he the case by Dr. Stanley as early as the 6th, of that month,
Starlings begin to collect together in flocks of twenty or thirty, and,
as the season advances, each of these is severally added to by recruits
from other families, who join them in their flights, and thus
the original party 'crescit eundo' until in the end a vast mass is
oongregrated. In the evening they collect in troops of thousands in
the reed-beds which adjoin a river, the marsh, the mere, the loch,
or lake, and especially in the fen districts of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire,
Kssex. Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire, and their harsh
cry may be heard at a great distance, sounding almost like the noise
of a steam saw-mill; so they also gather in numbers towards the
end of the summer even in gardens and on houses, and only after
a great chattering retire to rest. Their habits, therefore, arc social
at these portions of the year, and even in the breeding-season many
pairs will frequent the same locality, if it presents a sufficiency of
favourable situations. They are very assiduous in their care of their
young. They frequently may be seen in company with different
other species, such as Redwings, Fieldfares, Wood Pigeons, Jackdaws,
Plovers, and especially Rooks, a common purpose bringing them together
on neutral ground. They are occasionally a little quarrelsome
over some mutual ' b o n e of contention,' but in general live peaceably
together, nor do they molest other birds. In barren districts they
roost at night all the year round in the holes and crevices where
they have built, but in other parts of the country, where a choice
of shelter is afforded, they repair to different places for the purpose.
They will at times remain for hours together perched in the same
tree, sentinels being appointed to keep a look out, and on a note of
alarm being given, they at once betake themselves to flight. They
are good enough to eat, but rather tough, and slightly bitter.
Starlings are intelligent, quick, and sprightly birds, and have a