102 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



EUROPEAN STARLING. 



IN the winter these birds, like the former, con- 

 gregate in large flocks, and perform the same evo- 

 lutions in the air; sometimes forming themselves 

 into a compact body, and wheeling round all the 

 time, but still progressing forward, and changing 

 in their, flight into many different shapes. 



The Starling is a lively and active bird, always 

 gay, and very familiar, and will soon become 

 acquainted with all the inmates of the house. 

 They can be taught to whistle a tune, or speak 

 a sentence very plainly, the male as well as the 

 female. Some of my readers will recollect Sterne's 

 Starling. "I can't get out," said the Starling. 

 But this was only talk with him, for they seem 

 to be contented anywhere, and at home every- 

 where, provided you give them food to eat, and 

 plenty of water to wash ; for like the Red-Wings 

 they are very fond of bathing. When you wish to 

 teach them a tune, or to speak, it is necessary to 

 keep them alone, for they will try, exactly like 

 the former, to imitate every bird they hear, which 

 of course will take off their attention from what 

 you are teaching them. Those birds are so re- 

 markably docile that an old bird may be taught, 



