36 



but great numbers of nests are built in holes of walls or buildings, under 

 eaves and in chimneys, while on rocky coasts or where cliffs are met with, 

 a natural crevice or hole in the rock is often utilized. Thus in the 

 Hebrides the Starling nests in the sea-caves in common with the Shag 

 and the Rock Dove, quite independently of man. On the other hand in 

 cultivated districts the nests are generally either in, or close to, dwelling 

 houses; and should a slate come off the roof or the spouting be left un- 

 covered, a starling is sure to take advantage of the vacancy. Nesting- 

 boxes are readily adopted, and in Jutland I have seen wooden cases affixed 

 to the walls, divided into compartments capable of accomodating 100 pairs, 

 which appeared to be well patronized. An unfortunate feature in the 

 character of this species is the readiness with which it ejects other interesting 

 birds, such as the Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, and the Swift, 

 from their nesting holes and takes possession of them. Among the more 

 unusual sites used for breeding purposes may be mentioned: old Sand- 

 martins' holes, in thick ivy against walls or trees, against the side of a 

 haystack, in holes in the ground (St. Kilda) and among stone heaps or 

 boulders on the beach (Shetlands), in old Magpies' and Wood Pigeons' 

 nests, occasionally in open nests among the branches of thick trees, both 

 in England (see Yarrell, II, p. 232; Zool 1837, p. 347, 1899, p. 370) and 

 Denmark, in rabbit warrens (Anglesea), etc. The nest itself is a carelessly 

 built structure, varying in size according to the situation and composed 

 chiefly of straw, with occasionally a few dead leaves, dry grass and moss, 

 and a scanty lining of feathers, or wool and hair. Some birds have l)een 

 observed to decorate their nests with blossoms of flowers, green leaves, etc. 



The clutch varies from 4 to 7, but on several occasions I have met 

 with 8 eggs in a nest, which there is every reason to believe were the 

 produce of one hen. The somewhat glossy pale blue, sometimes white or 

 almost white, eggs are familiar to all. Occasionally an egg shows traces 

 of reddish brown spots. 



In the British Isles the vast majority of birds rear only a single 

 brood, but occasionally a second is hatched off. It has however been 

 asserted that this is not really the case, and that what appear to be second 

 broods are in reality only the late hatches of those birds which have hitherto 

 failed to find nesting holes. (See the Naturalist 1889, p. 112, 366, etc., 

 Zool. 1903, p. 390, etc.) It seems more natural to suppose that, as in the 

 case of the Spotted Flycatcher, some birds breed twice. Saxby speaks of 

 this as the rule in Unst, and in the western part of the Continent and 

 southern Germany it usually takes place, whereas in Scandinavia, Denmark 

 and N. E. Germany the reverse is the case. Time of incubation 14 days. 

 Breeding In the British Isles the usual breeding season is from mid-April to 



Season, early May, but occasionally nests have been found in December, January and 



