THE STARLING— A BIRD THAT IS ON TRIAL 313 



My own opinion is that for the present the Starling is on 

 trial, and the evidence submitted is not sufficient either to 

 condemn it or to indorse it. If it persistently harries and 

 drives from their haunts any important contingent of our 

 native insectivorous birds, then the Starling will have to be 

 suppressed by shooting. 



The Red-Winged Blackbird 1 is a bird that delights my 

 soul. No marsh or cat- 

 tail swamp is complete 

 without him. No spring 

 ever can be perfect 

 without his sweet, liq- 

 uid gurgle — "O-ka-lee." 

 You hear that flute-like 

 call when the sky is 

 clear, the warm sun- 

 shine is flooding field 

 and stream, and you are 

 glad that you are alive. 



The jet-black plumage of this bird, with epaulettes of 

 scarlet and white, make a brave show among the dull-green 

 blades of the cat-tails. As a rule, bird songs translated into 

 English do not appeal to me very strongly; but the Red- 

 Wing does say "O-ka-lee" to perfection! 



The typical Red-Wing is an eastern bird, but its half- 

 dozen subspecies are so well dispersed throughout the United 

 Slates that almost every region possesses one. In New York 

 City it lives outdoors all winter, when properly sheltered 

 1 Ag-e-lai'xis phoe-ni'ci-tts. Length, !) inches. 



RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



