OO EEE 
STURNIDZE. 215 
that the Starlings are at such times hawking for 
flies: this I very much doubt, as this soaring 
always takes place at a time when their food is 
plenty and easily attainable on the ground; and 
accordingly many may be seen busily engaged in the 
search for food on the ground at the same time that 
others are soaring. 
The nest of the Starling is generally placed in 
a hole in a wall, or under the thatch or tiles of a 
cottage, in some other building, or in an old ruin: 
when such places as these cannot be found a hole in 
a tree seems to suit equally well: it is made of 
twigs, straw, hay, dry grass and roots. The nest is 
generally placed rather deep in the hole, generally 
too much so for the hand to reach, and the hole 
through which the bird enters is generally too small 
for the hand. I think also the Starling prefers a 
place for its nest where it has two entrances, so that 
if stopped at the one it may escape from the not 
over-tender attentions of young birdnesters by a 
back door; at least this appears to be the case in 
my orchard, where many Starlings build every year, 
and all the holes selected are such as have two 
entrances, although many other holes apparently 
equally suitable may be found, but if they do not 
possess this convenience they are always neglected. 
The Starling is very easily tamed, and is very 
amusing in confinement: it readily learns to whistle 
various tunes, and to a certain extent it may be 
