218 PASSERES. STURNID^. 



metallic cry, at once attract attention. Gregarious, 

 but not associating in very great numbers to feed, 

 they frequent pastures and open grounds in search 

 of insects, not often hopping, (though I have seen 

 one hop,) but walking with a swaggering gait, 

 like rooks and crows. When on the ground their 

 time is chiefly occupied in searching about among 

 the roots of the grass. It is most amusing to 

 stand where one is not observed, at a few yards' 

 distance from a Tinkling at work, and to watch 

 the unremitted industry with which he labours. 

 He marches rapidly to and fro, turning his head 

 in all directions, peeping eagerly hither and 

 thither, now turning one eye to a spot, now the 

 other, ever and anon thrusting into the earth 

 the beak, which is then forcibly opened to loosen 

 the soil. He drags many morsels forth, which he 

 quickly swallows, and searches for more. I suspect 

 earthworms and various larvae that live at the 

 roots of grass are the objects of his research. 

 Amidst his constant occupation, he does not omit, 

 however, to keep an eye warily on any suspicious 

 object. Only shew your person, and you see the 

 singular-looking white eye turned up towards you ; 

 stir a step towards him, and away he flies, utter- 

 ing his very peculiar cry, his long tail folded on 

 itself, and resembling a vertical fan. As he sits 

 on a tree, he will now and then elevate the fan- 

 like tail, rufile up the plumage, throw back the 

 head, and with the beak wide open, utter two or 

 three most singular notes, which I can compare 

 to nothing but the sounds produced by repeatedly 



