142 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



to have been caught near Brighton, March 21st, 1866; kept 

 some time alive in a cage, and now in Mr. Monk's collection. 

 In its native country, North America, it is very destructive 

 to corn, hut also devours great numbers of insects. 



STTJRNID^. 



STARLING. 



Sturnus vulgaris. 



This sprightly and familiar bird is found throughout the 

 county ; and in the spring aflFects houses and farm buildings, 

 breeding in the chimney-stacks and water-pipes, from wdiich 

 it is very difficult to eject it, for, though several maybe shot, 

 others will take their places most pertinaciously. 



Neat as it may be in appearance, it is very untidy in its 

 habits, scattering the nesting materials about wherever it 

 takes up its abode. It is fond of cherries, but its food consists 

 very greatly of aphides and grubs, and of small laud mollusks, 

 of which I have found many in the interior of Starlings 

 which I have examined, chiefly Zua lubrica and Zonites purus. 

 It often accompanies the cattle in pastures, feeding on the 

 crane-flies and other insects disturbed by their feet. 



At certain times of the year they assemble in large cloud- 

 like flocks, and, at this time, they roost in great numbers in 

 the reed-beds and in the underwoods, breaking down the 

 reeds in the former, and in the latter destroying the 

 vegetation on the ground by their droppings. On arriving 

 at these spots they perform many evolutions, with great 

 chattering, before they settle, when they swoop down 

 suddenly and not a note is heard. They nest also in 



