BIRDS OF THE GARDENS 21 



Habits. One of the most aerial of birds, and flying 

 with extreme rapidity. Especially active and loquacious 

 in sultry weather, and most susceptible of cold. Prac- 

 tically incapable of walking, and never perches. 



Food. Insects captured on the wing. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. In holes in ruins, church towers, and sea-cliffs, 

 under slates of roofs, &c. 



Materials. Straw, grass, feathers, moss and wool, 

 cemented together with its adhesive, inspissated saliva. 

 Rude, flat, and ill-compacted. 



Eggs. Two rarely more. White, rough in texture 

 and oval in shape. 



ROSE-COLOURED STARLING (Pastor roseus). 



An irregular visitor which has occurred from time to 

 time in most counties. 



Plumage. Head, crest, neck and throat glossy purplish 

 black. Wings and tail glossy greenish-black. Back 

 and under parts salmon-rose. Bill rose-coloured, black 

 towards base. Legs yellowish brown. Length 8| in. 



In habits and language it much resembles the Starling. 

 Its favourite food is the locust, hence its erratic migra- 

 tions. Breeds in Southern Europe and Western Asia. 



SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa grisola). 



May to September. Pretty common throughout 

 Great Britain ; rarer towards the north and in Scotland 

 and Ireland. 



Haunts. Gardens, margins of woods, &c. 



