THE PEKCHING BIRDS. 179 



with strikingly long wings, and feeds on insects and corn. 

 It breeds only on the sides of the higher mountains, the 

 nest being of grass lined with hair and feathers. Eggs^ 

 4 to 7, -i inch ; grey, with brown and purple markings. 



17. The Starling. 



The Starling is one of the comparatively few birds that 

 have been, and are still, steadily increasing their range in 

 these islands, especially in Scotland. It is at all seasons 

 a familiar bird, whether on the chimney-stack, raised to 

 its full height, flapping its ^^dngs and shrieking at high 

 pitch ; or, again, running (not hopping like the thrush) 

 over the lawn, tugging at the retreating worm, or, in 

 harder weather, sharing the crumbs with the sparrows. 

 Viewed casually, the starling is no striking bird, but the 

 glasses reveal much beauty in the steely sheen of the 

 brown-tipped green plumage, the bright yellow bill, and 

 reddish-brown legs and feet. The female is spotted, and is 

 generally seen running in the wake of her lord. The voice 

 of the starling, though not out of keejDing with the grey 

 dawn, cannot be described as more than a shriek, followed 

 by a spell of chattering in a half whisper. Always a wary 

 bird, for which reason the bird-catchers call it "Jacob," 

 the starling is particularly difficult of approach when in 

 company with its fellows, and the flocks which feed to- 

 gether in cold weather move off simultaneously on the 

 least sign of intrusion. This is even noticeable in summer, 

 when they find agreeable insect food on the back of each 

 grazing cow, and even draw leeches from its nostrils. If 

 any one approaches that part of the field, the birds at once 

 leave their feeding-grounds and fly shrieking to the nearest 

 tree, from which, when all is quiet again, they descend to 

 resume their favourite occupation. Though its food con- 



^ , sists for the most part of insects, there seems 

 Food. ^ 



little doubt that the starlmg does at one 



season commit much havoc among the fruit-trees, though 



the notion of its sucking game-birds' eggs, a charge pre- 



