80 SINGING BIRDS. 



Florida ; so that in some degree, like the Jays and the legiti- 

 mate Starlings, they partially migrate in quest of food during 

 the severity of the weather in the colder States. It is not, how- 

 ever, improbable but that most of the migrating families of these 

 birds, which we find at this season, have merely travelled east- 

 ward from the cold Western plains that are annually covered 

 with snow. They are now seen in considerable numbers in and 

 round the salt-marshes, roving about in flocks of ten to thirty 

 or more, seeking the shelter of the sea-coast, though not in 

 such dense flocks as the true Starlings ; these, in the manner of 

 our common Blackbirds, assemble in winter like dark clouds, 

 moving as one body, and when about to descend, perform pro- 

 gressive circular evolutions in the air like a phalanx in the 

 order of battle ; and when settled, blacken the earth with their 

 numbers, as well as stun the ears with their chatter. Like 

 Crows also, they seek the shelter of reed- marshes to pass the 

 night, and in the day take the benefit of every sunny and shel- 

 tered covert. 



Our Starling, like the American Quail, is sociable, and some- 

 what gregarious ; and though many, no doubt, wander some 

 distance after food, yet a few, in Pennsylvania as well as in 

 this rigorous climate, may be seen in the market after the 

 ground is covered with snow. Wilson even observed them 

 in the month of February, during a deep snow, among the 

 heights of the Alleghanies, gleaning their scanty pittance on 

 the road, in company with the small Snow Birds. 



The flesh of our bird is white, and for size and delicacy it is 

 considered little inferior to the Partridge ; but that of the Euro- 

 pean species is black and bitter. 



The flight of these Larks is laborious and steady, like that 

 of the Quail, with the action of the wings renewed at short in- 

 tervals. They often alight on trees, and select usually the main 

 branches or topmost twigs on which to perch, though their food 

 is commonly collected from the ground. At various times of 

 the day, and nearly through the winter, in the milder States, 

 their very peculiar lisping, long, and rather melancholy note is 

 heard at short intervals ; and without the variations, which are 



