188 The Starling. 



able distance, but also immunity from disturbance, 

 as since the park-keepers have been replaced by 

 the metropolitan police, even the most adventurous 

 boys have given up any idea of bird's-nesting 

 there. However, it does not by any means confine 

 itself to nesting in trees, as it thoroughly appre- 

 ciates an unused chimney, and will take possession 

 of any suitable hole or cranny in a house or other 

 building. In thejcase more especially of buildings 

 thickly covered with ivy, of which we are sorry to 

 say few are to be found in London, it builds its 

 nest and rears its young in close company with 

 the house-sparrow, with which it appears to live on 

 the best of terms, thus, we think, disproving one 

 of the many charges that have been brought 

 against it to wit, that it, like the daw, is occasion- 

 ally given to making a meal of the young of its 

 smaller and more feeble companions. 



During the breeding season, more particularly, 

 the starling is a noisy, merry bird, spending the 

 whole of its spare moments in whistling, singing, 

 and chattering, as if endeavouring to explain to 

 the whole world how thoroughly it enjoys its life. 

 It is also one of the busiest of birds, constantly 

 running over the grass in pursuit of its food with 

 a manner and gait that is best described by the 

 word f( fussy." While it is so engaged no living 

 thing appears to be too small to escape its notice ; 

 it is not, however, content with the insects to be 

 found on the surface, but is constantly stabbing 

 and probing the ground with its bill in search of 



