STARLING. 231 



wanting the smaller mollusks are as busily sought, while 

 worms are at all times readily taken. In winter a certain 

 proportion of seeds enters into its diet, and among them 

 occasionally a few grains of corn may he found, hut these 

 seem to he its last resource. Berries however of various kinds 

 have their attractions,* and it cannot he denied that of late 

 years charges have been often brought against the Starling, and 

 apparently not without cause, of doing considerable damage 

 in cherry-orchards — especially in Kent. The actual extent 

 of its depredations has perhaps been exaggerated, for such 

 is the wont of horticulturists, who are always prone to 

 condemn in a sweeping sentence a whole race of beings when 

 they have been losers by any part of it. The naturalist will 

 wait to enquire whether the injuries complained of may not 

 be inflicted by some individuals rather than by the species 

 generally, whether they may not be due, in part at least, to 

 some peculiarity of the season which has for a time changed 

 the birds' habits, or whether the damage be really one of the 

 results of the great increase of the species which has been 

 continually going on for some years past in this island. 



This increase is indeed a very remarkable fact, attested on 

 so many sides that it must be accepted, though there are some 

 few places in which the contrary has to a slight degree been 

 observed. The growing abundance of the Starling with us 

 has been ascribed to the destruction of birds-of-prey, but 

 perhaps too hastily, since though Hawks of every kind have 

 become of late years scarce in this country, there is no Hawk 

 known specially to prey upon Starlings. Nor can we reason- 

 ably suppose that the increase of the latter has been much 

 induced by those who, following the example of Waterton,t 



* Bolton figured this bird feeding on crow-berries {Empetrum niijrum) of 

 which he says he noticed near Halifax that it seemed to be particularly fond. 

 Elder-berries are also eaten by it. 



f No naturalist will of course have the least wish to undervalue the efibrts 

 made by Waterton for domiciling the Starling. To him the praise is due that he 

 was one of the fii'st to appreciate its benefits, and to make the attempt which in 

 his case succeeded so perfectly. In his old gateway he many years ago made two 

 dozen suitable boles which were forthwith and for the rest of his life tenanted by 

 as many pairs of this bird. Bewick often told Mr. Hancock how delighted he 

 should be if a Starling could be induced to build its nest in his house, but from 

 VOL. II. H H 



