THE ROSE-COLOURED STARLING 135 



in the air a mass shaped like a globe. It suddenly expanded over 

 the infested patch, and " like a vast fan descended to the ground," 

 which next moment was overspread with a moving chattering black 

 mass, dappled with pink. It was a flock of rosy starlings. When 

 approached, the birds flew off, but they had done their work. Not 

 a young locust was to be seen. 1 



In addition to locusts, grasshoppers and their kin, the rosy- 

 starling feeds on other insects, spiders, small snails and worms. 2 It 

 may often be seen, like the starling, hunting in the meadows, and, 

 again like the starling, delights to be in the company of cattle 

 and sheep ; so much so, that it has gained the name of rosy-pastor. 

 But, whereas one herdsman can watch a flock of cattle, a flock of 

 these feathered pastors will watch one cow. As the placid quadruped 

 moves slowly forward grazing, its muzzle and its hoofs are each 

 surrounded by excited birds, eagerly attentive upon its every move- 

 ment, and alert to spring upon any insect disturbed by its progress 

 through the grass. Let the cow cease to move, and it is at once 

 deserted still cows disturb no insects and its attendant birds rush 

 off with lightning speed to the nearest quadruped in motion, their 

 advent being doubtless greeted with anything but favour by those in 

 possession. When the birds have had enough, and wish for repose, 

 they may be seen lying on the ground, either flat upon their rosy 

 breasts or else upon their sides, but still within sight of the herd. 

 When the latter goes to the drinking-place, they rise and follow. 

 While their four-footed friends drink and wade, they drink and bathe 

 living roses splashing in the blue of the water. Or they perch upon 

 the neighbouring trees, which they set aglow with flame-hued blossoms 

 and fill with strange music, not unlike the choiring of starlings, but 

 far less harmonious. There they wait till the herd returns to pasture 

 and to the performance of that insect-moving function for which, 

 according to rosy-pastors, it was by Providence ordained. 3 



1 Ibis, 1882, p. 411. 2 See the " Classified Notes." 



3 For the facts in this paragraph I am indebted to the Ornithologische Fragmente of 

 Petenyi, who studied the species in Hungary. 



