THE STARLING. 



sounds something like the word spate, 

 spate. 



Although sometimes guilty, especially 

 during very dry seasons, of taking cherries 

 and other fruit, the damage wrought 



YOUNG STARLING IN ITS FIRST 

 COAT OF FEATHERS. 



in this way is as nothing compared with 

 the vast amount of good done by this 

 species in the destruction of insects in- 

 jurious to growing crops. It is an amus- 

 ing sight to watch a flock hurrying and 

 scurrying across a field, the hindmost 



221 



