112 STOIilES ABOUT BIRDS. 



and has the same habits. And the nest is built in holes of trees and of 

 old walls. 



In India the beautiful rose-coloured birds fly in vast armies, such as 

 we have described, and darken the air. This is just when the grain is ripe in 

 the fields, and they play the part of the locusts themselves, and devour all 

 before them. 



THE SUPERB GLOSSY STARLING. 



Some members of the starling family go by the name of glossy starlings, and 

 are extremely handsome. They live among woods and rocks, and have all 

 the sharpness and sagacity of their race. They will settle on the backs of 

 the cattle and clear them from insects. At the same time, they are fond of 

 fruits and seeds, and sometimes, like the vulture, will feed on carrion. 



The bird in the picture is the glossy starling, and is so called on account 

 of the beautiful gloss on the feathers, that are like satin. Indeed, one member 

 of the family has such a shine on his plumage, that the effect is like a flash 

 of sunlight. These beautiful birds are not seen in England. 



The superb glossy starling lives in the remote parts of Africa, and wears 

 a costume of green and copper colour, the feathers being tipped with black. 

 The throat and breast are of blue, and over all the plumage there is a gloss 

 more brilliant than can be described. The glossy starling is a sociable bird, 

 and flies about in company. He hides himself among the trees if he is 

 alarmed, and makes a loud cry like a scream. 



THE CHOUGH. 



The chough forms a kind of link between the crows and the starlings, and 

 before we tell you much about him we will tell you the character that a natu- 

 ralist has given to the family of crows. 



