The Starling 



NEARLY everybody knows the Starling, 

 for it is almost as common as the 

 house sparrow. Although an alert, wary 

 bird, it is by no means shy, especially during 

 the breeding season, or severe weather in 

 the winter, when it will visit gardens and 

 contend with any other feathered pensioner 

 for a share of our bounty. At such seasons 

 the bird is especially fond of fragments of 

 soaked dog biscuit. 



The Starling feeds upon worms, grubs, 

 beetles and all kinds of injurious insects, but 

 in the cherry season it varies this diet by 

 visiting gardens and orchards in search of 

 dessert, to the anger of their owners, who do 

 not, alas ! always remember the old adage 

 that "one good turn deserves another/' 



Flocks of Starlings may often be seen 

 feeding near sheep. Sometimes the birds 

 alight on the backs of these animals, hence 

 the name " Sheepster " we often hear this 



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