9) BP. BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
Family SturnpD#. 
The Sturnide include but three British species, 
two of which are very rare, and neither of these am 
I at present able to include amongst the birds of 
Somerset. 
Common Stariine, Sturnus vulgaris. The third 
in the list, the species at present under considera- 
tion, is, however, exceedingly numerous, and seems 
to be increasing in numbers: perhaps it partly owes 
this increase to its immunity from the attacks of 
Hawks: the Kestrel, our most common Hawk, will 
not eat it; the Sparrowhawk will eat it, but it pro- 
bably prefers any other bird. 
The Starling is resident here all the year: at 
times it makes its appearance in immense flocks, 
consisting of many hundreds, even thousands, of 
birds: these large flocks make their appearance in 
our grass-fields and meadows, mostly in wet weather. 
The appearance of one of these flocks on the wing 
puts one in mind of a flock of Purres on the sea- 
coast, as they turn and wind about somewhat in 
the same manner: in fine dry weather they spread 
more over the country, and their numbers do not 
then appear so great: they all return, however, to 
the same place to roost, generally to some shrubbery 
or plantation of laurels or other evergreens. When 
great flocks collect in some place of this sort to 
