STARLING. 83 



many varieties of situation, its recognized harmlessness 

 to the agriculturist, and its own natural sharpness, give 

 it great chances of increase, and of these it fully avails 

 itself. Perhaps the most curious place chosen is that 

 recorded in the Field of October 31st, 1874, by Mr. 

 John Wrigley of Formbj^ who says he found a nest 

 with 3'oung ones in it, built upon the ribs of a wrecked 

 ship, which at high tide was not less than a quarter of a 

 mile from the shore. Usually the nest is in a hole 

 either of tree, cliff, or wall, but it is often fixed among 

 ivy, and Mr. T. Altham has known this bird many times 

 to build a big loose nest on the branches of the spruce- 

 fir. [On May 5th 1884, Mr. E. J. Howard took four 

 fresh Starling's eggs from a Magpie's nest in a plantation 

 near Eishton Eeservoir.^ It is an incomparable mimic, 

 and will sometimes deceive the most trained ear ; its 

 imitation of the Curlew is almost perfect. The Starling 

 usually breeds in colonies, laying five to seven eggs late 

 in April, and although the contrary has been asserted, 

 does not, I believe, rear more than one brood. [This 

 has been again questioned. — Ed.] It may often be 

 seen examining the previous year's nesting holes as 

 early as the month of February if a fine day or two 

 happen to occur. 



GENUS PASTOR 



EOSE-COLOUEED STAELING. 



Pastor roseus (Linnaeus). 



An occasional visitor in autumn, of rare occurrence. 

 Latham (" Gen. Hist, of Birds," 1821) wrote that it was 

 said one or more Pastors had been killed, almost every 

 season, about Ormskirk, and Blackwall has reported 



G 2 



