THE STARLING, OH STARE. 



lutions they execute at that time. They will form 

 themselves perhaps into a triangle, then shoot into 

 a Jong, pear-shaped figure, expand like a sheet, 

 wheel into a ball, as Pliny observes, each individual 

 striving to get into the centre, &c., with a prompti- 

 tude more like parade movements, than the actions 

 of birds. As the breeding season advances, these 

 prodigious flights divide, and finally separate into 

 pairs, and form their summer settlements ; but 

 probably the vast body of them leaves the kingdom. 

 Travellers tell us, that starlings abound in Persia 

 and the regions of Caucasus. 



No birds, except sparrows, congregate more 

 densely than stares. They seem continually to be 

 running into clusters, if ever so little scattered ; 

 and the stopping of one, to peck at a worm, im- 

 mediately sets all its companions hastening to par- 

 take. This habit in the winter season brings on 

 them death, and protracted sufferings, as every 

 village popper notices these flocks, and fires at the 

 poor starlings. Their flesh is bitter and rank, and 

 thus useless when obtained ; but the thickness of 

 the flights, the possibility of killing numbers, and 

 manifesting his skill, encourages the trial. The 

 flight of these birds, whether from feeding to roost, 

 or on their return to feed, is so rapid, that none 

 with any impediment can keep company ; and in 

 consequence we see many, which have received 

 slight wing or body wounds, lingering about the 



