Northern Observations of Inland Birds 8i 



been proved, beyond all question that their presence is 

 in every sense beneficial to farm lands. 



The starling is another bird which nests in the vicinity 

 of human dwellings, and is as familiar to the city lover 

 of bird life as it is to those whose lot is cast amidst wilder 

 surroundings. I believe that the starling is overwhelmingly 

 the most abundant of all our wild birds — more abundant 

 even than the sparrow. Sparrows throng about human 

 habitation, but where human dwellings are few and far 

 between these birds are comparatively scarce, whereas 

 the starling is everywhere. In our cities he thrives and 

 multipHes — indeed, he is to be found everywhere that 

 the sparrow exists, and over vast areas where the last- 

 named bird is seldom seen. I have seen starlings in flocks 

 of thousands in the heart of the loneliest moors, sharing 

 the habitat of the curlew and the golden plover ; I have 

 seen them in thousands amidst lonely swamp and fen 

 country, settling upon the rushes like reed buntings, 

 while in the remotest and loftiest Highland crags they 

 are to be found vying with the rock-ousels for nesting 

 sites. Again they are to be seen in packs along the sea 

 shore, scavenging for maritime insects among the stranded 

 weed, or aHghting on the rigging of fishing smacks to 

 glean the refuse which smears the decks on the return 

 of the boats to harbour. The starling is the most 

 industrious and adaptable of all wild birds ; it is the 

 first astir at daybreak and the last to retire to roost ; it 

 can find food anywhere that food exists, and flourish 

 where others might starve — hence its abundance. 



One May evening some years ago I was motoring 

 over the heights between Pateley Bridge and Hebden 

 village when I was surprised to see pack after pack of 

 starlings flying straight towards the west. It was so 

 dark that I had some difficulty in identifying them, and 

 fell to wondering what it was that was attracting them 



