230 STARLING. 



to his friend. As with pheasants, the hen is the 

 best on the table ; the cock the prettiest bird for 

 a present. 



STARLING, or STARE. Sturnus vulgaris 

 L'etourneau. 



The time to shoot starlings by wholesale is just 

 before the dusk of the evening, when they come down 

 to roost among the reeds. Here they assemble in 

 swarms, that darken the air ; and, for some time, keep 

 up a chatter, which even surpasses that of Frenchmen 

 in their warmest political debates. 



Having swept down some dozens with your duck- 

 gun, let their heads be immediately pulled off; as 

 this will, in a great degree, prevent their having a 

 bitter taste. 



Starlings are very good when stewed with rice, or 

 made into a curry. 



Before I conclude under the head of Starlings, I 

 must ask leave to become my own trumpeter, in 

 order to name a shot that I made at these birds, 

 which will give some idea as to the manner in which 

 they swarm together : Happening, in the early part 

 of last winter, to have my punt afloat on Lord 

 llodney's pond, at Alresford, I loaded my new 

 double swivel-gun with a pound of small shot in each 

 barrel ; and, a little before daylight, paddled across to 

 a retired part of the pond, where the reeds were lite- 

 rally swarming with these birds. Having placed the 

 punt " stem on" so as to command the eastern light, 



