Northern Observations of Inland Birds 85 



the home of my boyhood there stood an ancient barn, 

 in the tiles and rafters of which several starling families 

 were reared annually, and after the nesting season, while 

 food was still abundant though the busiest period was 

 past, the old birds, for once idle, would perch on the roof 

 in the evening and practise their various call-notes. 

 My brother and I used to whistle to them, and many a 

 time obtained an exact echo, though we never realized 

 our ambitions of teaching one of them to whistle a hymn 

 tune. 



No doubt at this season the starling idles with a sense 

 of relaxation well deserved. He has reared his young 

 and industriously and truly fulfilled those obligations 

 which are all wild Nature asks of her children, and seated 

 there, surrounded by friends and by plenty, he watches 

 the sunset and now and then darts after an insect, while 

 across the balmy quietude float the sounds which make 

 this twilight hour so dear to all of us, and perhaps to 

 him also. 



