208 STARLINGS, 



without a notch at its extremity, it may be decidedly placed 

 amongst the conirostral tribe. 



Of some birds it is difficult, from their retired habits, to 

 give any clear and accurate account. Not 

 so of our friend the Starling. "When it 

 suits his purpose, he comes fearlessly 

 under our observation, and invites us 

 to learn his history. For many and 

 many a year have we watched him from 

 month to month, with the exception of 

 a certain season, when, for reasons best 

 known to himself, he altogether dis- 

 The starling. appears, and leaves us to wonder what 



is become of him. 

 Close before the window of our scene of observation, a well- 

 mown short-grassed lawn is spread before him it is his dining- 

 room ; there in the spring he is allowed to revel, but seldom 

 molested, on the plentiful supply of worms, which he collects 

 pretty much in the same manner as the Thrush, already 

 described. Close at hand, within half a stone's-throw, stands 

 an ivy-mantled parish church, with its massy grey tower, from 

 the turreted pinnacle of which rises a tall flag-staff, crowned 

 by its weathercock ; under the eaves and within the hollows 

 and chinks of the masonry of this tower are his nursery esta- 

 blishments. On the battlements and projecting grotesque 

 tracery of its Gothic ornaments he retires to enjoy himself, 

 looking down on the rural world below ; while, at other times, 

 a still more elevated party will crowd together on the letters 

 of the weathercock, or, accustomed to its motion, sociably 

 twitter away their chattering song, as the vane creaks slowly 

 round with every change of wind. 



We will give a journal of our Starlings' lives. At the close 

 of January, one or two unconnected birds now and then make 

 their appearance on this weathercock ; at first but for a few 

 minutes, as if without an assignable reason they had merely 

 touched upon it as an inviting resting-place, in their unsettled 

 course. In February, if the weather happens to be mild, the 

 number of idlers may possibly now and then increase ; but 



