8MA1L BIRDS.] 



BY I'll: LI), WOOD, AM) WATKK. 



[Xlli: BTADLiyO. 



but these noblo and beautiful works of Nature 

 are now sought for in vain. Next to this 

 ignorant nnschiof is tho wanton destruction of 

 bannlesa and useful birds. The wretcheil and 

 wicked habit of almost all cliildreu scekinj,' 

 after and taking birds'-neats, with no other 

 object than mere wilful destruction, is, we 

 believe, condueivo to many a wicked pro- 

 pensity in after-life. It is in itself not only a 

 cruel, but a purloining act, and tends as much 

 to blunt the natural sensibilities as it does 

 to degrade the moral sentiments. Not to 

 follow up this moral strain too deeply, wo 

 would notice one or two birds which, wo think, 

 are often destroyed more in a spirit of wanton- 

 ness than of sport. Those arc the lapwing, 

 peewit, or common plover, which is, perhaps, 

 one of the most elegant inhabitants of the air . 

 the white owl, and the starling. The first, in 

 its elegant llight, with plaintive pipe, gamboling, 

 and wheeling, and dipping over and around its 

 mate, must have delighted every real lover 

 of rural rambling. One would have supposed 

 that the thousands of slugs that it lives upon, 

 would have made it a peculiar pet of the 

 farmer ; and its vigilance of giving the alarm, 

 if either weasel, crow, magpie, dog, or poacher 

 cross its resting-place, ought to make it sacred 

 to the gamekeeper; and yet how constantly 

 is it destroyed through sheer thoughtlessness! 

 So, likewise, the beautiful white owl, that 

 best of mousers, how rare has it become ! Its 

 usefulness is without a drawback, and yet 

 how wilfully is it persecuted ! We know of 

 hardly any sight so beautiful as to see this 

 spirit of the early night, silently glide along 

 the dim hedge-row, and then, light as the foam 

 of the wave, perch upon the picturesque stump 

 of some old tree. And so the starling, that 

 endless mocker and imitator, that croaks and 

 whistles, and screams and warbles in mockery 

 of all its feathered songsters. Whether we 

 see this bird among the countless myriads of 

 his winter companions, winging his wonderful 

 flight, without confusion, in that cloud of birds 

 which darkens the wintry sky, or, at other times, 

 when faithful to his native roof, separating 

 himself and mate from that companionship, to 

 chatter and flutter on the old-accustomed 

 chimney or parapet ; if we consider the count- 

 less worms and insects, their only food, which 

 these never-tiring searchers must consume, no 

 4 H 



reflective mind would over think of raising a 

 gun against them. This samo strain of senti- 

 ment might, wo think, most uscftliy be carried 

 out in reference to all the tribes of harmless 

 birds. Let each man have his pet, and do hij 

 best to encourage its preservation. 



If there ia to be an exterminating war car- 

 ried on against these little creatures, what is 

 to become of the " music of our groves," and 

 the multitude of poetical associations witli 

 which our small birds are linked in every mind ? 

 Our ornithological works will bo read, by future 

 generations, with the samo sort of interest that 

 wc read of animals that lived before the flood ; 

 that had an existence, but that, long ago, be- 

 came extinct, and aro now only to be met witli 

 in a fossil state, imbedded in strata, or buried 

 in long-concealed caverns. 



THE COMMON STARLING. 



Handsome in appearance, social in disposi- 

 tion, lively in manners, and harmless in its 

 habits, the Sturniis vulgaris, or starling, is ono 

 of the best known and least molested birds 

 which inhabit our green fields, lawns, parks, 

 and pleasure grounds. It loves society, and, 

 consequently, at almost all periods of the year, 

 considerable flocks are met with, which range, 

 feed, and roost together. 



Starlings commence nest-building early in 

 the year, occasionally during the third week in 

 February, but more usually in March or April. 

 They select a hole for a nest in an old weather- 

 worn tree, a church-steeple, or tho roof of a 

 house ; and having fixed upon one, they main- 

 tain possession of it with remarkable persever- 

 ance. A pair once fixing upon a hole beneath 

 the rafter of a cottage, were found very trouble- 

 some, and the cock-bird was shot : tho hen 

 found another mate. Next time the hen was 

 shot : the cock-bird paired again. Afterwards 

 both were shot; another pair came and built. 

 The hole was then plugged up with straw : 

 they pulled it out piecemeal : it was next plas- 

 tered over with mortar; they made a hole 

 through it. They were afterwards allowed to 

 tenant tho spot, because it was so difficult to 

 efl'ect their ejection. 



Starlings are particularly fond of parks which 

 abound with ancient and venerable trees. Aa 

 the nesting season comes in, these old domains 

 present a busy and bustling aspect; for tho 



GOl 



