STARLINGS. 145 



is generally loud, quaint, and harsh, seldom harmonious ; some have 

 a remarkable talent for mimickry. The plumage, when of more 

 than a single color, is often eminent for beauty, splendor, and sin- 

 gularity. They are in general, easily domesticated, and readily fed. 



§ 1. Birds more usually Gregarious. 



In these the bill is in the form of an elongated cone, entire on its 

 edges, and bare at the base, where it presents a sort of open sinus in 

 tlie feathers of the forehead. The outer and middle toes united at 

 the base. The tail of 12 feathers. 



STARLINGS. (Sturnus, Lin.) 



The BILL in the form of a lengthened cone, depressed, and some- 

 what blunt, with the edges vertical ; above somewhat rounded. Nos- 

 trils half closed by an arched membrane. The tongue narrowed, 

 sharp, and cleft at the point. The hind nail longest and largest. 

 The 2d and 3d primaries the longest. 



The female is scarcely distinguishable from the male by 

 the plumage ; but the young differ from the adult. There 

 is also a double and periodical change in the colors of 

 the bill and feet, as well as in the tints and spots with 

 which the plumage is decorated, which takes place inde- 

 pendently of the annual moult, so that the feathers appear 

 to undergo this alteration by the friction of their barbs, as 

 well as the action of the air and light ; and in spring, 

 after the true moult, the numerous spots of the autumnal 

 feathers disappear. 



The Starlings feed principally on insects which they 

 find on the ground ; some of the species follow the cattle 

 paths to pick up those they disturb, and often alight 

 familiarly on their backs; they also feed on different kinds 

 of seeds, and search for them, like pigeons and common 

 13 



