204 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



In the autumnal moult the birds gain their rich and 

 glossy plumage. 



The food of the Starling is for the most part com- 

 posed of worms and slugs, although in the autumn they 

 will feed on fruit. I have known them devour elder- 

 berries ravenously, and the garden fruits too are eaten. 

 But these inroads on fruit are but trifling, for the Starling 

 as a rule obtains his sustenance from the grass fields 

 alone. Starlings are guided by sight alone in obtaining 

 their food. It is a pleasing sight to watch a company of 

 these birds searching for food. Nimbly they run and 

 walk about, picking up the slugs or drawing the worms 

 from their hiding-places. Sometimes one of the birds 

 will find an unusually large worm, and then several others 

 will if possible strive to gain a share, and harsh cries 

 prevail until the tempting morsel is despatched. When 

 flushed, Starlings rise simultaneously, and usually alight 

 in the same manner. When these birds and Rooks are 

 feeding in company, the Starlings always keep together. 

 No satisfactory reason has yet been given for this that I 

 am aware of. But may not these birds keep together 

 for this purpose ? When about to take flight all fly up 

 together. Jackdaws, if any be present, fly with the Rooks, 

 but the Starlings keep in one dense flock. And is not 

 this because, did the birds rise* promiscuously, the 

 Starlings would have difficulty in flying amongst a 

 flock of their corvine brethren, and no doubt get sepa- 

 rated. The Jackdaws, being as large as the Rooks, or 

 nearly so, experience no inconvenience. 



A bird gifted with surprising powers of flight is the 

 Starling. I often see them coursing through the air in 

 search of insects, like Swallows, and then their powers 

 of wing are seen to perfection. At other times the 

 Starling passes through the air on a rapid beat of wing 



