148 



OMNIVOROUS BIRDS, 



seen in considerable numbers, any single flock is never 

 greater than a pair and their attendant brood, or from 6 

 to a dozen, in the case of a second covey. The true 

 Starlings, on the contrary, have all the habits of our com- 

 mon Blackbirds ; they assemble in winter, like dark 

 clouds, moving as one body, and when about to descend, 

 perform progressive circular evolutions in the air like a 

 phalanx in the order of battle ; and when settled they 

 blacken the earth with their numbers, as well as stun the 

 ears with their chatter. Like crows also, they seek the 

 shelter of reed marshes to pass the night, and in the day 

 take the benefit of every sunny and sheltered covert. 



Our Starling, like the American Quail, is sociable, 

 but scarcely gregarious; and though many, no doubt, 

 wander some distance after food, yet a few, in Pennsyl- 

 vania, as well as in this rigorous climate, may be seen in 

 the market after the ground is covered with snow. Wil- 

 son even observed them in the month of February, du- 

 ring a deep snow, among the heights of the Alleghanies, 

 gleaning their scanty pittance on the road, in company 

 with the small snow birds. 



The flesh of our bird is white, and for size and delica- 

 cy it is considered little inferior to the Partridge ; but 

 that of the European species is black and bitter. 



The flight of the Sturnella is laborious and steady like 

 that of the Quail, with the action of the wings renewed 

 at short intervals. They often alight on trees, and select 

 usually the main branches or topmost twigs on which to 

 perch, though their food is commonly collected from the 

 ground. At various times of the day, and nearly through 

 the winter, in the milder states, their very peculiar lisping, 

 long, and rather melancholy note is heard at short inter- 

 vals ; and, without the variations which are not inconsid- 

 erable, bears some resemblance to the slender sing- 



