Mr. W. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 417 



Massareene deer-park*, and Shane's Castle Park, both well 

 wooded and very extensive domains situated on the banks of 

 Lough Neagh, and far remote from public haunt t, are now 

 their nearest regular nestling-places. Ruined castles, both in 

 marine and inland locaUties in the north of the island, where 

 not very many years ago they nestled, have of late, without 

 any apparent cause, been deserted ; and the same has been re- 

 ported to me with respect to districts in the south j. 



The starling has been well described by authors as one 

 of the most sociable of birds. Every month in the year it 

 may be observed in flocks, though in May and June but few 

 individuals comparatively are seen congregated in these 

 islands. At the end of May, I have in Holland remarked con- 

 siderable flocks feeding in the pastures, and flying from tree to 

 tree on the road-sides. At the end of June and very early in 

 July large flocks are not unfrequent ; — around Penrith in the 

 north of England, about Birmingham, and in the very differ- 

 ent scenery of the South Islands of Arran, at the entrance of 

 Galway bay, I have observed them at :his season. 



It is most entertaining to witness starlings feeding, so very active 

 and lively are all their movements ; not one moment are they still, 

 and well may it be so, for truly are they omnivorous §. In the ' Fa- 



* May 29, 1830. I remarked nine starlings associating together here, 

 and about the same time saw a single bird hastening with its bill filled with 

 food to its mate or young. From the 6th of June to the second week of July, 

 according to the season, young starlings have been observed by the Bishop of 

 Norwich to be able to leave their birth-place in company with their parents. 



f This observation, correct though it be, may seem strange to persons who, 

 like myself, have at this season observed the starling about the parks of 

 London, including the much-frequented St. James's Park. 



I Mr. Waterton, in his ' Essays on Natural History,' treats in a most in- 

 teresting manner of the starling, and satisfactorily accounts for the compa- 

 ratively smaller number of these birds breeding in England than formerly : 

 — the reasons there assigned partly apply to Ireland also. 



§ The contents of the stomachs of starlings often show that a great deal of 

 life of various kinds is sacrificed to their appetite, and in quantity as well as 

 variety of food they exceed all birds that have come under my observation. 

 From my notes a few examples may be selected. Dec. 17, 1834. — A star- 

 ling was found to contain five perfect and full-grown specimens of Bulimus 

 lubricus and a Ilclix radiatula ; some minute Coleoptera, especially dung- 

 beetles, and numerous insect larvae ; a blade of grass, a few grains of oats, 

 and fragments of gravel. 



March 12, 1835. — On opening a starling, thirteen specimens o( Bulimus 

 lubricus and two Helices, together with perfect Coleoptera of different spe- 

 cies, and numerous larvae, were observed. 



Dec. 29, 183.5. — The stomach of a starling was filled with insects of va- 

 rious kinds, or indeed families, but chiefly Coleoptera, some grain, and the 

 following shells : — twelve perfect adult specimens of Helix radiaiula, a Ilel. 

 cellaria, and a //. hispida, both whole and of ordinary size ; twelve examples 

 of Bulimus lubricus nearly all adult and perfect. 



Nov. 2j, 1830. — Nine starlings examined contaiiu'd only the remains of 



Ann. 6f Mug. N. Hist. Vol. viii. 2 E 



