The Starling. 39 



One of them regularly built its nest in the roof of the house, 

 having found entrance through a neglected aperture ; the other 

 reared its young, high up, in the deep hole of an aged syca- 

 more tree. Two or three pairs frequented the dovecot; but 

 I observe that they built their nests in the crannies, and not 

 in the holes made for the pigeons. These poor birds, toge- 

 ther with the owl, had to suffer persecution from wanton 

 ignorant servants, until I proclaimed perpetual peace in their 

 favour, and ordered, I may say, the Temple of Janus to be 

 shut, never more to be opened during my time. 



Having been successful in establishing the owl in the old 

 ivy tower over the gateway [see Vol. V. p, 12.], I conjectured, 

 from what I had observed of the habits of the starling, that 

 I could be equally successful in persuading a greater number 

 of these pretty lively birds to pass the summer with me. I 

 made twenty-four holes in the old ruin ; and in the spring of 

 this year I had twenty-four starlings' nests. There seemed 

 to be a good deal of squabbling about the possession of the 

 holes ; till, at last, might overcame right. The congregated 

 numbers suddenly disappeared, no doubt with the intention 

 of finding breeding quarters elsewhere ; and the remaining 

 four and twenty pairs hatched and reared their young, 

 causing, I fear, the barn owls, their next-door neighbours in 

 the tower, many a sleepless day, by their unwelcome and 

 incessant chatterings. 



On the one hand, when we consider how careful the star- 

 ling is in selecting a place for its incubation, sheltered from 

 the storm ; and, on the other, when we look around us, and 

 see how many old houses have been pulled down, where these 

 birds found a refuge ; and when we reflect how modern 

 luxury, and the still more baneful turf, have forced many 

 a country squire to fell his aged oaks, his ash trees, and his 

 sycamores, which afforded the starling a retreat; it will not 

 require the eyes of Argus to enable naturalists to discern the 

 true cause why such numbers of assembled starlings take 

 their leave of us in early spring. 



This year, seven pairs of jackdaws, twenty-four pairs of 

 starlings, four pairs of ringdoves, the barn owl, the black- 

 bird, the robin, the redstart, the house-sparrow, and chaffinch, 

 have had their nests in the old ivy tower. The barn owl has 

 had two broods, and, while I am writing this, there are half- 

 fledged young ones in the nest. As far as I can learn, there 

 has been no plundering of the eggs of this community, on the 

 part of the starlings. 



Now that autumn has set in, the movements of this delight- 

 ful assemblage of birds already warn us to prepare for winter's 



d 4? 



