CHAPTER XVIII. 



Starling. 

 (ADDITIONAL.) 



IN ''Birds I have Kept" I had a little to say about 

 this handsome and exceedingly clever and useful bird, 

 but not much, for my experience with it in captivity 

 had not then been an extended one. Since that time, 

 however, I have had the opportunity of making the 

 acquaintance of another member of the family, and 

 concerning him, or I should say her, I wish to make 

 a few remarks. 



I had long entertained a prejudice against caging 

 the Starling, though I really cannot say exactly why, 

 but when "Jack" came into my possession, I found 

 that I had made a mistake and that it was a very 

 delightful pet. An occasional correspondent had written 

 to me one day offering me a young Starling that had 

 been brought up by him from the nest, and also its 

 cage, a wicker one that decided me and I replied, 



7 



