604 STURNUS GUTT ATUS. 



them in the water, from whence they rise to join some other 

 neighbours, whose reed is still able to bear their weight. This 

 perpetual jostling and breaking down, is the probable cause of 

 the incessant clatter, which continues for a considerable time ; 

 indeed, till all have procured dry beds, and a firm footing. 



" It has been remarked that the flights of these birds have 

 of late years much diminished, a fact to which we can speak 

 from our own experience, for the assemblages which we have 

 just described, as forming so interesting a feature in autumnal 

 evening walks, have long ago ceased ; and it is now a rare thing 

 to see a passing flock of even fifty, where, in years gone by, they 

 mustered in myriads." 



It is interesting to trace the changes which the habits of 

 birds undergo, to accommodate them to the different circum- 

 stances in which they may be placed. The Starlings of the 

 Outer Hebrides and the north-eastern islands, equally treeless, 

 remain all the year round, retiring nightly to rest in the places 

 where they have bred, namely the caves and crevices of the 

 maritime cliffs ; while those of many other parts of Scotland, 

 even of the island of Skye, and of England, leave their breed- 

 ing places, like the rooks, collect into flocks, and roost in dif- 

 ferent localities during the winter. The reason of this difference 

 is not apparent, unless it be that in the former case they cannot 

 find a more secure retreat than that in which they have bred, 

 and therefore are obliged to restrain their wandering propensi- 

 ties, which they can freely indulge in districts where they 

 have a choice of station. 



Mr. Weir, to whom I am indebted for so many interesting ob- 

 servations, has favoured me with the following notes having re- 

 ference to this species. " About the end of May 1835, being 

 very anxious to get a pair of Starlings for stuffing, I went to Car- 

 michael House, Lanarkshire. While there, I was determined 

 to ascertain if the fact be true, which I have somewhere heard 

 or seen mentioned, that the male Starling does not feed its 

 voung ones. Of the absurdity of this statement I had an ex- 

 cellent opportunity of being convinced. The gamekeeper 

 having pointed out to me a nest with young, in the hole of a 

 very old ash tree, about thirty feet from the ground, the female 



