SPOTTED STARLIXG. (505 



of wliicli had been shot for eight days, I observed the male, 

 notwithstanding the want of his partner, persisting in his 

 labours of affection with unwearied assiduity. I set fetters 

 around the hole, and caught the poor fellow. He was a re- 

 markably beautiful bird. From the nest proceeded a most 

 offensive odour, occasioned by the droppings of the birds not 

 having^ been removed, which was not the case with anv of the 

 other nests that I looked into. There was, at least in this in- 

 stance, a strong proof that the male does not condescend to 

 take a share in this servile employment, but leaves it w^holly 

 to the charge of the female. But lest some sceptic should 

 affirm that the father, although ordinarily austere, might have 

 been moved with compassion towards his offspring when de- 

 prived of their mother, I made another attempt to be more 

 fully convinced of its truth. I accordingly set my fetters 

 around the hole of another nest, and in the course of a few 

 hours caught the male and the female in the act of feedinof 

 their young ones. This proved beyond doubt the fallacy of 

 the statement." 



The Starling is easily tamed, and may be taught to whistle 

 tunes, as well as to pronounce words. Almost all authors are 

 agreed in reducing its natural notes to "a harsh scream and a 

 chatter or twitter ;"" but I have certainly heard them enunciate 

 what to me, who am more sentimental than musical, appeared 

 to be a very pleasant little song. As a specimen of an ac- 

 complished Starling I may here introduce one visited by Mr. 

 Syme. " We went, one morning, with a friend, to see a col- 

 lection of birds belonging to a gentleman in Antigua Street, 

 Edinburgh ; and among these were some very fine Starlings — 

 one, in particular, which cost five guineas. Breakfast was 

 ready before we entered the room. When the bird was pro- 

 duced, it flew to its master's hand, and distinctly pronounced, 

 ' Good morning. Sir, — breakfast — breakfast.' It afterwards 

 hopped to the table, examined every cup ; and, while thus 

 employed, it occasionally repeated, ' Breakfast — breakfast — 

 bread and butter for Jack — pretty Jack — pretty Jack.' " 



Mr. AVeir gives a similar account of another individual. 

 " Mr. Paton, carver and gilder. Horse AVynd, Edinburgh, 



