300 



STARE. Class II. 



breaking them down by their weight-, for reeds are 

 the thatch of the country, and are harvefted with 

 great care. 



Thefe birds feed on worms, and infeds ; and it 

 is faid that they will get into pigeon houfe?, for the 

 fake of fucking the eggs. Their fledi is fo bitter, as 

 to be Icarce eatable. They are very docil, and 

 may be taught to fpeak. 

 Descrip. The weight of the male of this fpecies is about 



three ounces ; that of the female rather lefs. The 

 length is eight inches three quarters : the breadth 

 fourteen inches. Bill, in old birds, yellow. The 

 whole plumage is black, very refplendent with 

 changeable blue, purple, and copper: each feather 

 marked with a pale yellow fpot. The leffer co- 

 verts are edged with yellow, and (lightly gloffed 

 ^yith green. The quil feathers and tail dufky: the 

 former edged with yellow on the exterior fide; 

 the laft with dirty white. The legs of a reddifh 

 brown. 



Strait 



