212 STARLINGS. 



As winter approaches, however, they follow the example of 

 some other birds, such as Larks, Buntings, &c, and congregate 

 in larger quantities. Not far from the church we have mentioned, 

 there is a considerable sheet of water, occupying nearly thirty 

 acres, flanked and feathered on the eastern side by the old 

 beech wood, already spoken of as the abiding-place of the Jack- 

 daws. Its western margin is bounded by an artificial dam, 

 which, as the water is upon a much higher level, commands an 

 extensive view over a flat, rich country, the horizon terminated 

 by the faint outline of the first range of Welsh mountains. 

 This dam, on the finer evenings of November, was once the 

 favourite resort of many persons, who found an additional 

 attraction in watching the gradual assemblage of the Starlings. 

 About an hour before sunset, little flocks, by twenties or fifties, 

 kept gradually dropping in, their numbers increasing as day- 

 light waned, till one vast flight was formed, amounting to 

 thousands, and at times we might almost say to millions. 

 Nothing could be more interesting or beautiful than to witness 

 their graceful evolutions. 



At first they might be seen advancing high in the air, like a 

 dark cloud, which in an instant, as if by magic, became almost 

 invisible, the whole body, by some mysterious watchword or 

 signal, changing their course, and presenting their wings to view 

 edgeways, instead of exposing, as before, their full-expanded 

 spread. Again, in another moment, the cloud might be seen 

 descending in a graceful sweep, so as almost to brush the 

 earth as they glanced along. Then once more they were 

 seen spiring in wide circles on high ; till at length, with one 

 simultaneous rush, down they glide, with a roaring noise of 

 wing, till the vast mass buried itself unseen, but not unheard, 

 amidst a bed of reeds, projecting from the bank adjacent to the 

 wood. For no sooner were they perched than every throat 

 seemed to open itself, forming one incessant confusion of 

 tongues. 



If nothing disturbed them, there they would most likely 

 remain : but if a stone was thrown, a shout raised, or more 

 especially, if a gun was fired, up again would rise the mass 

 with one unbroken, rushing sound, as if the whole body were 



