STURNID.E — THE STARLINGS. 229 



Stumus vulgaris, Linn. 



THE 8TABUN0. 



Stumus vulgaris, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, (ed. 10,) 1758, 167; U'll. 12,) 1700, 290. — I)f.(;lam> 

 k Gkkbe, Orn. Europ. 1, 1867, 232. — Keinu.vudt, Ibis, 1801, 7 ^Lirtrnlaud). 



Sp. Cii.vn. Ft'iitluTs principally liistrous-'ulack, with pnrply and prreeii rt'flections, 

 except at their extremities, which are diiP and ojiai^ue ; brownish above, silvery-white 

 biMieath. Bill yellow in spring, brown in antunm. Lej.rx llesh-<'olor. Lenirth about 

 8.51; winjr, o.ll; tail, 'J.SI; bill above, 1.11, from nostril. .75; gape, 1.15: tarsus, 1.15; 

 middle toe and claw, 1.15. Ffiuah similar, but less brilliant. 



IIab. Europe and North Africa, most abundant in Ihdiand. One specimen killed in 

 Greenland, in 1851, and preserved in the Royal Zoological Museum of C'operdiageu. 



The preceding description will serve to distinguish tlie Starling from iiny 

 North American species, although it is subject to considerahle variation. 

 A second form, scarcely distinguishable as a species {S. imiro/oi', De la 

 Marmora), of a prevailing black color, witliout terminal spots, and witli the 

 feathers of the under part elongated, is found in Sardinia and Sicily. 



Habits. We give a place to the common Starling of Plurope in the fauna 

 of Xortli America, as an occasional and rare visitant of Greenland. Only a 

 single instance is on record of its actual capture, — a ft male taken by Hol- 

 boU in 1851, and now in the lloyal Museum of Coi)enhagen. 



The well-known Starling of Euroi)e is handsome in plumage and of grace- 

 ful sliape. It is numerous, as a species, is very generally (Ustributed, and 

 therefore very well known. With many it is a great fjivorite, and is also 

 familiar as a caged bird. Its sprightly habits, retentive memory, and flexi- 

 bility of voice, commend it as an interesting and entertaining pet. It has 

 been tauglit to whistle tunes, and eveu to imitate the human voice, with 

 facility and correctness. In its natural state it is a very social bird, and 

 lives in flocks the greater })art of the year. 



Mr. Waterton, who was a great admirer of the Starling, sought to induce 

 these birds to frequent his gi'oiinds, and with this view made various cavi- 

 ties in the walls of an old tower near his residence. His wishes were grati- 

 fied, and soon every cavity he had made was taken possession of by a pair, 

 and many more would have been thus domiciled had provision been made 

 for them. 



A similar instance is on record in Hamburg, where, within a few years, 

 a well-known horticulturist induced nearly tw^o hundred pairs of Starlings 

 to occupy and to breed in wooden boxes put up in his grounds for their 

 accommodation. His plants had been destroyed by the attacks of hosts of 

 subterranean larvae, and the Starlings were invited in tlie hope that they 

 would remove this evil, which tht^ did quite efl'ectually. 



Dr. Beverley Morris gives a very interesting account of a female Starling 

 that he observed building a nest in a hollow tree. Th ' male looked on, but 



