262 COMMON STARLING. 



and in the fenny counties of England, and what 

 in Scotland are called holm lands, are frequented 

 often by immense bodies, associating with the 

 rook and pigeons, flying with them, and feeding 

 in their company* They roost in willow beds, 

 or reeds by the sides of lakes, or in marshes, and 

 an hour before dusk is the most favourable time 

 to see their beautiful and varied evolutions, ex- 

 tending far from, and around their station, and 

 to a considerable height ; the flock at one time 

 appearing an irregular and straggling company, 

 and at another wheeling into one dark and com- 

 pact mass, so close as scarcely to be seen through. 

 In Holland we observed this bird in immense 

 troops during autumn, shewing its propensity for 

 a low-lying and watery country. There they might 

 be seen in every meadow, if distinction could be 

 applied to a country which for miles and miles 

 shewed an extent of rich low pasture land, sepa- 

 rated only by ditches or a canal, keeping company 

 with Rooks and Lapwings, and roosting at night 

 in the immense reed beds skirting the meres or 

 lochs, breeding about the churches and buildings 

 having spires, and sometimes in the old pollard 

 willows. In many parts of Scotland where 

 they do not breed, they are migratory, appear- 

 ing in autumn and spring ; but near her old 

 towers and castles, now mostly in ruins, a few 

 pairs may be seen, giving life to the generally 

 grave characters of these buildings. It may 

 be remarked, however, that on the north coasts 

 of Scotland, and in the Hebrides, the Starling 



