NATURE'S CAROL SINGERS. 



members continually flying over the fore- 

 most and then running in breathless 

 haste looking eagerly this way and that, 

 probing every likely and unlikely place 

 for some lurking grub, as if life did not 

 contain one moment to be wasted. 



They alight on the backs of sheep and 

 cattle in order to destroy troublesome 

 parasites, and at certain seasons of the 

 year may be seen dexterously hawking 

 winged insects over houses and tree-tops. 



Starlings have greatly increased in 

 numbers during the last forty years in 

 our islands, and there is no season of the 

 year when flocks, great or small, cannot 

 be seen. Late breeders keep together 

 until far on in May, and the broods of 

 those that commenced housekeeping 

 operations early in April flock together 

 directly they meet each other in the 

 fields. Thus I have known the same 

 nesting hole occupied twice in one season, 

 a fact which has given rise to the belief 

 entertained by some people that the 

 species is double-brooded. 



When flocked, these birds have favour- 

 ite roosting places, to which they resort 

 in tens of thousands every night with 

 the utmost regularity. Sometimes they 

 select a reed bed to sleep in, and do great 



222 



