82 BIRDS OF LANCASHIRE. 



quantities every winter near Manchester, and that they 

 were pretty plentiful even in that of 1882, which was so 

 mild [in England, but not on the Continent. — Ed,]. 

 He once, thirty years ago, kept in confinement a number 

 of birds, which he had procured alive out of a flock which 

 frequented the neighbourhood of Chorlton from Decem- 

 ber to March, and they seemed so healthy that he had 

 hopes of their breeding, but early in June they became 

 very restless, and all died off without any apparent 

 cause. The flocks mostly, though not always entirely, 

 consist of birds of the year, and never appear before 

 November ; stragglers being occasionally seen as late as 

 the middle of April. 



FAMILY STURNID^.— GENUS STURNUS. 



STARLING. 



Sturnus vulgaris, Limifeus. 



Local Names — Stare, Shcpster, ShejU'ic- 



Resident, and everywhere common, leaving, however, 

 the more exposed districts in winter. At this season it 

 collects in small flocks, which, throughout the day, in 

 company with Rooks generally, seek for food in the 

 pastures, and towards evening join together, forming 

 immense multitudes, and passing the night in sheltered 

 situations, as among thick trees, Szc. When freshly 

 alighted at such places, the noise made by the calls of 

 the birds to each other passes all belief. The Starling 

 is a largely increasing species, and is so prevalent that 

 I think it probable even these enormous flocks may be 

 formed locall3% Its capacity of adapting its nest to 



