THE MIGRATIONS OF THE STARLING 253 



passage, traversing our shores when en route between 

 Continental summer and winter quarters ; and, finally, (5) 

 there are winter movements — partial migrations within the 

 British area and emigration to the Continent — depen- 

 dent upon and varying with the severity of the season. 



The data amassed relating to these numerous 

 irregular and regular movements are extraordinarily 

 voluminous, and their study has presented problems for 

 solution of an exceptionally complex nature — more so 

 than those appertaining to any other British bird. 



As a resident species the Starling is widely distributed 

 over our islands, its range extending from the Shetland 

 and other northern isles ^ southward to the English 

 Channel. It is also a permanent resident at St Kilda. 

 In many of the northern and of the more elevated 

 portions of the mainland of Britain the bird is migratory, 

 being entirely or partially absent during the autumn 

 and winter months.^ 



This variability in the migratory habit is also 

 manifest in many districts of England. It may in most 

 cases depend upon the distribution of food-supplies ; 

 but this does not explain all, for there are counties 

 in south-western England, such as Cornwall and Devon, 

 in which the Starling has only recently become a 

 breeding species, and is still chiefly a winter visitor. 



In Ireland the peculiarities in seasonal distribution 

 of native Starlings are very similar, and the species is 

 mainly a winter visitor to the south and west. An 



^ At Fair Isle there appears to be no diminution in the numbers of 

 native birds in winter ; but in north Ronaldshay, one of the outermost and 

 most exposed of the Orkneys, only a few remain for the winter. 



" At Halmyre, a moderately elevated district in Peeblesshire, about 

 75 per cent, leave (Laidlaw). At Pitlochry, in Perthshire, which is flanked 

 by high ground, all depart (Macpherson). 



