208 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



This habit of suddenly forsaking a favourite roosting- 

 haunt has often been noticed, but, as far as I know, 

 never satisfactorily accounted for. We look upon 

 the Starling as one of the most useful to man of our 

 British birds ; the manner in which these birds will 

 clear a turnip-field attacked by " fly " of this pest has 

 several times come under our especial notice, and is 

 truly marvellous, and although accusations against 

 the Starling of depredations amongst various fruits 

 are not wanting, I never heard any gardener in our 

 neighbourhood speak of it as an enemy. Insects of 

 all kinds form its principal diet, and small parties of 

 Starlings may frequently be seen in calm hot weather 

 hawking slowly high in air in a fashion that has put 

 us somewhat in mind of the habits of a very different 

 species the Bee-eater, Merops apiaster, as observed 

 in Spain and other parts of Southern Europe. As 

 soon as the young are strong on the wing these birds 

 collect in small flocks, and are often closely waited 

 upon of an August evening by the Hobby, Falco sub- 

 buteo, although I do not believe that this little falcon 

 would " bind to," or be able to hold a well-fledged 

 Starling. The great majority of our home-bred 

 Starlings leave us early in autumn, but their places 

 are soon occupied by strangers, who remain or pass 

 on according to the weather. This species, as might 

 be expected from the nature of its food, is one of 

 the first to suffer from a sudden severe frost, and 

 we have often picked up Starlings dead or dying 

 about our spring-heads after a few days of such 

 weather. The Starling, besides an infinite variety 

 of natural notes, possesses the power of close imi- 

 tation of those of many other birds. One which 

 haunted the roof of the house at Lilford deceived me 



