192 The Starling. 



trouble is taken with their education, can be taught 

 to articulate words, and even very short sentences, 

 though they much more readily imitate other birds, 

 or animals, than the human voice. This bird is, 

 indeed, a mocking-bird, and may often be heard 

 to mix the notes of other birds with its own 

 peculiar song. From its wide-ranging habits it 

 associates with all sorts of apparently incongruous 

 companions, and may occasionally be heard to 

 imitate exactly the wild cry of the redshank or 

 other wader, the result, doubtless, of a visit, during 

 the winter, to the banks of one of our tidal rivers, 

 as it is a very common habit of this bird, especially 

 in severe weather, to visit the banks left bare by 

 the tide, as by so doing it can always ensure a 

 meal. 



Starlings are certainly on the increase in the 

 country, and, as we have said, their numbers do 

 not, in our opinion, materially decrease in London, 

 or at least in the suburbs ; nor do we think that, 

 so long as the Parks at least remain, there is any 

 cause to fear that they will cease to be reckoned 

 among the birds of London. 



