STURNUS. 11 
where they are very fond of closely attending cattle while feeding, and almost 
every other kind of haunt, both mland and on the coast, notably near 
houses and ruins. Their food consists of insects, worms, grubs, fruit, 
berries, and various kinds of seeds. Their call-notes are harsh; but they 
have considerable powers of song, and in confinement readily learn to 
imitate different tunes and even words. Their flight is very strong and 
powerful, and on the ground they walk orrun. They build bulky slovenly 
nests of grass, straws, roots, feathers, and almost every kind of material 
to hand, placing them in holes of walls, rocks, trees, or buildings. Their 
eges are from four to six in number, greenish blue in ground-colour, 
without any markings. 
