51 



THE STARLING. 



Sturnus Vulgaris. 



Description. The color of this bird is of a black- 

 ish hue, changing to pourple towards the front of the 

 body and to green towards the hind part. Tiie feathers 

 on its body are all tipped with white, less on the head 

 than the other parts. Its length is eight inches and a half. 



The natural song of a Starling is rather poor, but he 

 has a wonderful good memory. He will learn to re- 

 peat several airs that are played to him, with great 

 ease ; nay, more, he learns to pronounce words very dis- 

 tinctly, or imitate the song of other birds, or any sounds 

 when repeatedly heard. Besides this, he becomes very 

 tame in the house, so as to be let out of the cage, and 

 walk about the room. He soon knows all the persons 

 in the house, is always gay and wakeful, and as docile 

 and cunning as a dog. I have one at the present time 

 that whistles three different airs very correctly, and 

 speaks about fifteen German words quite distinktly. 



The Starling, when brought up in a cage, will learn 

 until two years old ; other birds seldom learn after one 

 year old. 



Hisy^^^and treatment may be the same as that of 

 the Thrush. They are a very hardy bird, and will 

 sometimes attain the age of fifteen years. 



I have thus far given description of the European 

 Song Birds, with the exception of a few that are little 



