Practical Bit d-Keeping .— VI. Starlings. 315


which form pensile purse-like open net-work nests swung from

the brandies of tall trees or rarely large bushes overhanging

water; but the Black Cassique (Cassidix oryzivora ) is parasitic,

laying its eggs in the nests of other species ; the last-mentioned

bird feeds in its wild state upon seeds and insects, but the purse-

builders are all fruit and insect eaters and should be treated like

the typical Hangnests in captivity.


The Hangnests (. Icterince ) construct pensile long, openly

woven, purse-like nests which are suspended from the branches

of trees or bushes; their food consists of fruit, insects, spiders

and worms and in captivity soft food, fruit and an occasional

insect will keep them in perfect health and plumage, until even¬

tually they die from sheer old age. These are the most confiding,

clever and attractive in every respect of all the New World

Starlings, and, provided that one could obtain both sexes, there

seems not the least reason why they should not be bred in an

outdoor aviary without difficulty. The sexes are easily distin¬

guished, even where the plumage does not differ, owing to the

very marked difference in the length of the bills of male and

female.


It is dangerous to associate the species of Icletus with

other birds, as they have very strong and pointed bills and are

aggressive. When kept in a cage it is not safe to bring one’s

face too close to the wirework ; for these birds, like all Starlings,

are attracted by anything bright and might stab one’s eyes;

children should therefore be cautioned not to go too near.


The Old World Starlings hitherto imported belong to the

Subfamily Sturnince and, as already stated, mostly nest in holes,

in trees, rocks, or buildings; but the Glossy Starlings of the

genus Calornis construct pensile nests after the manner of the

Icterine species and lay spotted eggs like many of those birds (as

well as other Glossy Starlings) for which reason I regard them as

probably the nearest allies to the New World family.


The species of Calomis feed upon seeds, other vegetable

matter and probably insects ; the African Glossy Starlings also

feed upon fruits, berries, seeds, insects, and of course spiders.

In captivity, therefore, these birds should be treated like the

Icterine Starlings. The typical Starlings (Sint nits) and the Star-



