236 STUENID^. 



plumage begins to show itself, and then the young birds 

 present a singular appearance, as the glossy black feathers, 

 tipped with pearl, appear in irregular patches on various 

 parts of the body. Starlings do not usually roost near the 

 scene of their depredations, but from this season and thence 

 until late in autumn they repair, as if by some preconcerted 

 scheme, to a rendezvous common to many detachments. 

 A writer in the Zoologist states, that there were formerly, 

 near Melbourne in Cambridgeshire, some large patches of 

 reeds, which were rented at a certain annual sum, and 

 which the tenant sold to builders to use in making plaster- 

 floors and ceilings of rooms. Towards autumn. Starlings 

 resorted to them in such numbers to roost, that unless 

 scared away, they settled upon the reeds, broke them down 

 and rendered them completely useless. It required a 

 person to keep watch every evening for some time, and 

 fire at them repeatedly with a gun as they were settling 

 down ; but as the spot was a favourite one, they showed 

 considerable reluctance in quitting it. Similar accounts are 

 to be found in most books on ornithology ; that given by 

 Bishop Stanley in his familiar " History of Birds," is one of 

 the most striking passages in his admirable little book, and 

 though too long for quotation, is well worthy of perusal. 



THE ROSE-COLOUEED PASTOE. 



PASTOR ROSEUS. 



Head crested ; crest and neck black, lustrous with violet reflections ; back and 

 lower parts rose-colour ; wings and tail lustrous brown. Length eight inches. 



A VERT beautiful bird, partaking the characters of the 

 Starlings and Crows. It is an inhabitant of Syria, Asia 

 Minor, and Africa, where it is gregarious in its habits, and 

 does much mischief to the grain crops. In Europe it is 

 of uncommon occurrence. 



