The Starling Sturnus.j
Numb. XL.
IT S length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail is nine Inches; Breadth
when the Wings are extended, one Foot three Inches ; it weigh’d three Ounces. It »
of the Bignefs and Shape of the common Blackbird. Its Bill from the Tip to the Angles
of the Mouth is an Inch and a quarter long, in the Cock of a pale yellow, in the Hem
dusky, broader and more deprelfed than in Thruihes or Blackbirds, by which Mark it
differs from them. The upper Mandible is equal to the nether; the Tongue is hard
horny and cloven : the Irides of the Eyes are of a hazel-colour, white on the upper part
It hath the niftating Membrane ; the Legs and Feet are of a yellowifh brown or flefli
Colour; the Claws are blackiih; the outer and inner Fore-Toe are equal to each other
and the outer joined to the middle Toe as far as the firit Articulation. The Legs are
feathered down to the Knees.
The Tips o f the Feathers on the Neck and Back are yellowifh, the Feathers under
the Tail cinereous, elfe they are black all over the Body, with a blue and purple Glofs
varying as it is varioully expofed to the Light. In the Hen the Tips of the Feathers on
the Breaft and Belly to the very Throat arc white in the Cock ; the Back participates
more of purple, the Rump of green, but the lower Belly is more fpotted.
All the quill Feathers are duiky .j but the Edges from the third to the tenth, and from
the fifteenth to the laft, are more dark. The covert Feathers of the Wings glifter, and
the Tips of the leffer covert Feathers are yellow; the Feathers covering the underfide
o f the Wings areduiky, having pale yellow Edges.
The Tail is three Inches long, made up of twelve dufky Feathers with pale yellow
Edges. It lays four or five Eggs lightly tinihired with a greenifh blue.
The blind Guts as in the relt of this Kind are very fhort and finali, nearer to the Fundar
ment than in others. The Mufcle of the Gizzard is not very thick i the Guts'are
thirteen Inches long. It feeds on Beetles, Worms, and other Infette. It hath a Gall-
Bladder. They are gregarious Birds, living and Eying together in great Flocks. They
company alfa with Red-wings and Fieldfares -, yet they do not fly away with them, but
abide with us »11 Summer, breeding in the Holes o f Towers,_ Houfes and Frees, &c.
Starlings are not eaten in EnglandS by reafon of the Bitternefs of their Fleih. The
Italians, and other Foreigners are lefs dainty ; but they arc not very bitter when their
Skins are flripped off It is a notable Bird in imitating Man’s Voice, and fpeaking arm