IIOSE-COLOUKED VASTOR. 57 



Greenfinch, but with a generally warmer tint, and spots of a 

 much u.ure decided or dark red shade. Fig. ID, plate IF. 



112. PARROT CROSSBILL (Loxiapityopsittacus). 

 It has occurred in a few instances, but is much too rare to be 

 noticed by us at length ; and indeed the same may be said of the 

 bird nex.t named. 



112. WHITE- WINGED CROSSBILL (Loxiafakirostra). 



IV. STUENID.E. 



113. STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris). 



Common Starling, Stare, Sheep-stare, Solitary Thrush, Brown 

 Starling. The two last of these names used to be applied 

 to the young of the Starling. Few cases of more brilliant 

 plumage are met with in our English birds than in the instance of 

 the male of the common Starling. The metallic glow and play 

 of colours in the feathers of his head, neck and back is very 

 beautiful. It is a very abundant bird, and it is supposed by some 

 that there are some peculiarities in its breeding habits. I 

 mean that I have heard it. asserted that the male is a polygamist, 

 or rather perhaps a bigamist. I never saw any thing within my own 

 scope of observation which led me to suspect it, but rather to 

 hold the received belief that the Starling pairs exactl^ as most 

 other birds do. They are exceedingly pertinacious in adhering to 

 their choice of a place for nesting in. I knew one case in which 

 from the inconvenient nature of the nest-site selected, one of 

 the birds was shot. In a very short space the survivor had paired 

 again, and the gun again dissolved the union. The whole process 

 was repeated five or six times, and the Starlings bred at last in the 

 place chosen by the original ^air. The nest is found in a great 

 variety of situations, m the bowl of a water pipe from the eaves 

 of a house, in a dove cot, in holes in trees, below the nests in a 

 rookery, in holes in old buildings or more recent masonry, between 

 the slates and underdrawing of a roof, in holes in steep high rocks, 

 in chimneys of houses, and the like. It is made, without stint 01 

 materials, of straw, roots, grass, and a plentiful lining of feathers 

 The eggs, four to six Li number, vary strangely in size but not 

 in colour, which is of a uniform pale blue. In some districts 

 where the Starling abounds, they collect in huge flocks, the young 

 with ftie parents, and may be seen when on the wing like a cloud 

 from a great distance. Fig. I, plate F. 



115. ROSE-COLOURED PASTOR (Pastor roseus). 

 Rose-coloured Ouzel or Starling. Merely an accidental visitor 

 to our shores. 



