I :<s Family STrRxiDJ',. 



^0" 



Fieldeu (P.Z.S., 1877, p. ,30) iu a paper on the birds of the North PoLar Basiu, 

 says: — "Ou the 13th May, 1876, I heard the first Suow-Buuting- fPlectropliauis 

 nivalis) as we lay in onr tent on the floe at the base of a cliff. The note came 

 from above, clear and musical, and each inmate of the tent started into a sitting 

 postnre, and said 'Hnsh, hnsh, do yon hear it?' One of the sailors said to me, 

 ' What bird is that sir ? it is sweeter than a throstle. 



IMy friend Mr. David Seth-Smith had a pair for a considerable time and may 

 perhaps still have them ; I have seen them flying about iu one of his garden 

 aviaries many times, but never heard the song. 



FAMILY vSTURNID^. 



THE Starlings are an Old World family of birds linked to the Finches through 

 the hicridcr or Troupials and Cow-birds of the New World; but, ou the other 

 hand, showing affinity to the Corvida or Crow-family. They are character- 

 ized by a long straight slender bill, with the nostrils placed low down, without 

 rictal bristles ; a very small bastard primary aud very loug second primary ; the 

 tarsus is scaled in front, but uot behind. 



Starlings wlieu on the ground progress in a purposeless, irregular fashion, 

 mostly by walking or running ; on the wing their flight is powerful, but peculiar, 

 so that, wheu at a great height, it has a twinkling appearance ; when at a lower 

 elevation this is explained by the fact that they rapidly flap their somewhat long 

 wings aud then sail straight forwards. 



These birds are practically omnivorous, always hungr}' and consequentl}- large 

 feeders ; they are, therefore, unsuitable for caged pets, unless considerable attention 

 can be paid to them by their owners : in themselves, however, they are cleanly, 

 being exceedingly fond of bathing. 



The songs of Starlings are either altogether, or partly, harsh iu character ; 

 iu which respect aud in their powers of mimicry, they somewhat resemble their 

 allies the Crows. Like the latter also they soon become tame and confiding iu 

 captivity ; in which respect they widely differ from some of the Ictcridcc which 

 never seem to get the least bit tamer after j^ears of confinement iu an aviary, 



