THE STARLINGS 



1517 



We have heard individual starlings reproduce the call note of the skylark, gold- 

 finch, wagtail, and other small birds; sometimes we have been startled on a winter's 

 day to recognize the cry of the common sandpiper or the grating call note of a fern 

 owl in the middle of a crowded city, and have discovered the author of our astonish- 

 ment in the person of a starling, that is pouring forth his rhapsodies from some 

 neighboring chimney top. Perfection is not easily acquired; but the starling prac- 

 tices his performances until he acquires a high measure of proficiency. 



COMMON AND BLACK STARLING. 



(One-half natural size.) 



The starling does not, however, confine his attention to reproducing the 

 notes of other birds; any sound that strikes his fancy being rehearsed time after 

 time, until the sharpest expert might be deceived. Not long ago, one of these birds 

 astonished its human neighbors by reproducing the hammering of a stone mason, 

 "who had been engaged in dressing stone. The starling nests in April, and the 



