tb6 STARLINGS. 



a note of congratulation resembles somewhat the cawing of a raven,but changes 

 to a varied scale in musical gradation, as he! hi! ho! haw! repeated rapidly 

 and frequently ; sometimes he raises his voice, screeching forth notes of such 

 power that they can be heard at a great distance, and which it would scarcely be 

 supposed so delicate a bird could utter : these notes resemble whock, luhock, 

 luhock! uttered in a barking tone, the last being always in a low note as a con- 

 clusion. 



"This bird," says an elegant writer, "possesses plumage which, in one part, 

 glitters with all the dazzling gem-like hues of the humming-bird, in another is 

 soft, warm, and delicately tinted, and in another is dyed with a rich intensity 

 of colouring that needs a strong light to bring out its depth of tone — and yet 

 the torrent of graceful and softly-tinted plumes, that flow with such luxuriant 

 redundance of changeful curves over the body, are in themselves sufficient to 

 place the emerald bird of paradise in the first rank of beauty." 



FAMILY III. 

 THE STARLINGS. STURNID^. 



General Characteristics. —Bill more or less long, with the sides compressed, the 

 culmen slightly curved or straight to the tip, which is sometimes emarginated, and 

 the gape often angulated ; the wings long and pointed ; the tail generally long and 

 even, or graduated ; the tarsi more or less long, and covered in front with broad 

 scales ; the toes long and strong, the hind toe very long and robust ; the cla\\-s long, 

 curved, and acute. 



The birds of this family are nearly related to the Corvidns both 

 in their structure and habits. They are for the most part sociable, 

 collecting in flocks, especially during the autumn and winter, and 

 even during the breeding season they are generally to be seen in 

 company. Their food consists of worms, insects, fruit, and grain, 

 — articles which also constitute a considerable portion of the diet 

 of crows ; but the Starlings do not appear to imitate the latter birds 

 cither in their taste for carrion or in their predatory propensities ; 

 they are, however, very sagacious, and become docile and amusing 

 in captivity, when some of them may be taught various tricks, and 

 even to speak a few words. 



To this family belong the Glossy Starlings, the Grakles, the 

 Beef-Eaters, the Starlings proper, the Boat-Tails, the Hang-Nests, 

 and the Troop-Birds. 



Many build artfully-constructed pendent nests, well calculated, 

 from their shape and position, to guard their offspring from the 

 attacks of their numerous enemies, while others make for them- 



