NON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 5 



deserted. The colonics are established in old ruins, 

 amongst the masonry of castles, in deserted and crum- 

 bling earthworks, m the sides of quarries and railway 

 cuttings, in cliffs, or even amongst loose stones and 

 fragments of rock on bare mountain sides. The nests 

 are often open to the external air, but more generally 

 deep in clefts and crevices or under stones and rocks. A 

 covered site seems always to be preferred, but where the 

 birds are numerous the less fortunate individuals have to 

 be content with more open and exposed situations. In 

 crowded colonies many nests are built close together, in 

 some cases absolutely touching each other. The nest is 

 a cup-shaped structure loosely put together and made of 

 dry grass, twigs, stalks of plants, straws, bits of moss, and 

 lined with finer grass, dry leaves, and feathers, although 

 the latter material is sometimes omitted. Like the 

 Starling the present species frequently drops an egg on 

 the ground whilst feeding. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement: 

 The eggs of the Rose-coloured Starling are from five to 

 seven in number, and uniform pale bluish-white in colour, 

 smooth and possessing considerable gloss. Average 

 measurement, I'l inch in length, by '82 inch in breadth. 

 Incubation, performed by the female, who is said to sit 

 very close, is presumed to last fourteen days. 



Diagnostic characters : Usually the eggs of the 

 Rose-coloured Starling may be distinguished from those 

 of the Common Starling by their much paler hue and 

 slightly smaller size, but they require the most careful 

 identification, and should always be well authenticated. 



