$4 THE STARLING 
attention. The nest of the Oriole, on the contrary, is suspended 
between the two forks of a horizontal branch, which intercept the 
side view of it. The materials employed are the lichen above men- 
tioned, wool, cobwebs, and feathers, but all of a white hue. When 
not placed in a fruit tree, it is attached by a kind of cordage to the 
twigs of a poplar or birch tree, or even to a bunch of mistletoe, 
hanging in mid-air like the car of a balloon. A cradle thus sedu- 
lously constructed we should expect to find watched with unusual 
solicitude. And such is the case; it is defended most valiantly 
against the attacks of marauding birds, and so devoted is the mother 
bird that she has been known to suffer herself to be carried away 
sitting on her eggs, and to die of starvation. Surely a bird so 
beautiful and so melodious, so skilful an architect and so tender 
a nurse, deserves rather to be encouraged than exterminated. 
Nests have been found in several of our counties, more especially 
in Kent. The plumage of the female bird differs considerably from 
that of the male in richness of tint, and the young of both sexes 
resemble the female. 
FAMILY STURNID 
THE STARLING 
STURNUS VULGARIS 
Plumage black, with brilliant purple and green reflections, the upper feathers 
tipped with cream-colour; under tail-coverts edged with white; beak 
yellow ; feet flesh-colour, tinged with brown. Female—spotted below 
as well as above. Young—uniform ash-brown, without spots. Length 
eight and a halfinches ; width fifteen inches. Eggs uniform pale greenish 
blue. 
THE Starling is a citizen of the world. From the North Cape to 
the Cape of Good Hope, and from Iceland to Kamtschatka, he is 
almost everywhere at home, and too familiar with the dealings of 
man to come within a dangerous distance of his arm, though he 
fully avails himself of all the advantages which human civilization 
offers, having discovered, long ago, that far more grubs and worms 
are to be procured on a newly-mown meadow than on the bare hill- 
side, and that the flavour of May-dukes and Coroons immeasurably 
excels that of the wild cherries in the wood. That dove-cots, holes 
in walls, and obsolete water-spouts are convenient resting-places 
for a nest, appears to be a traditional piece of knowledge, and that 
where sheep and oxen are kept, there savoury insects abound, is 
a fact generally known, and improved on accordingly. So, in 
suburban gardens, where even the Redbreast and Tits are unknown, 
Starlings are periodical visitors and_afiord much amusement by 
