2 54 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



Ill reoard to habitat abroad, Howard Saunders 



o 



says, "It is found, and as a rule is resident, 

 throughout the rest of Europe," the exceptions given 

 being the Faroes, Iceland, Norway (north of 

 Trondhjems Fjords), and Arctic circle generally. 

 Continuing, he says, " But in the south of France, 

 Spain, Italy, and Greece it is extremely local." 



The Starling. 

 Family, SturnidcB. 



This species is more gregarious in its habits than 

 most of our birds, and must be familiar to most of 

 my readers. 



It is very widely distributed over the whole of the 

 British Islands, being exceptionally plentiful in the 

 " west and north of England and Wales. Immense 

 flocks arrive on our east coasts in autumn, a large 

 proportion of these immigrants spreading themselves 

 over the south of Ireland" (H.S.) Of late years 

 Starlings have greatly increased in number, and 

 this is especially the case in regard to Scotland, 

 where in former years it was almost an unknown 

 species. 



As far as my own knowledge obtains the Starling 

 has been in evidence everywhere. 



Mr. W. H. Hudson says : " The nesting habits of 

 the Starling contribute to make it one of our most 

 familiar birds. He breeds in holes ; and a hole in a 

 tree or rock, in a cliff or quarry, suits him very well ; 

 but he more often finds a suitable place under the 



