THE STARLING IN AUTUMN 



AMONG the many characteristic things about the 

 starling nothing is more characteristic than his 

 feeding manners and customs. A blackbird feeds 

 like a conscious pilferer. Even when he is inno- 

 cently looking for slugs among the gooseberry 

 bushes he dodges in and out in a furtive fashion, 

 and is off at the first alarm. The sparrow has no 

 doubt whatever that he is a thief, and glories in 

 his shame. But the starling has a large and 

 homely confidence that all sorts of food are meant 

 for him. 



One best sees this trait of starling nature in 

 the winter, when playing the charitable part to 

 the birds. There are all manners of approach to 

 the spread feast the swift come and the swift go 

 of the mavis, the reconnoitringly managed side 

 approach of the chaffinch, the studied stage by 

 stage advance of the greenfinch. The starling's 

 manner is to walk right up with a " thank-good- 

 ness-breakfast-at-last " sort of expression, and 

 begin without any airs or graces to tuck in. He 

 is not quarrelsome, and does not deny other birds 

 a share, but, nevertheless, he is very sure that 



the deposit laid down is meant for him. And 

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