156 . BIRDS 



great were their numbers that they were killing the bush with their 

 droppings. They had to be driven away by firing guns at roosting 

 time. Another roosting place was at Martinborough, where they 

 occupied an avenue of bluegums : 



In going to those places they seemed to converge from all parts of the 

 compass, and their cries made a great roar as they settled themselves for 

 the night. With regard to their returning, they seem to go back soon after 

 daylight, and in twos and threes flying low. It seems that they work up 

 country from field to field during the day, until the time for making 

 homeward arrives, when they rise and fly straight for their roosting place, 

 the flocks gradually increasing, as they draw nearer home by the addition 

 of other flocks. As a rule, when once in full flight, nothing in the shape 

 of a ploughed field will tempt them down, and any stragglers that may 

 stop, seem to be uneasy and soon rise and follow the others. Starlings 

 follow the binders in clouds for the caterpillars, but they are not observed 

 on the ploughed fields to any great extent. 



This last statement may be correct for Rangitikei, but is not so for 

 Otago and Southland, where they may be seen following the plough 

 in considerable numbers. Mr A. Philpott, writing me in April, 1892, 

 says: 



The Rev. J. G. Wood states that "when a flock of starlings begin to 

 settle for the night they wheel round the place selected with great accuracy. 

 Suddenly, as if by word of command, the whole flock turn their sides to 

 the spectator and with great whirring of wings the whole front and shape 

 of the flock is altered. No body of soldiers could be better wheeled or 

 countermarched than are these flocks of starlings, except an unfortunate 

 few who are usually thrown out at each change." I have watched flocks 

 of starlings arriving at their roosting-places very often, and in one case 

 only have I seen anything resembling the company evolutions referred to 

 by Mr J. G. Wood. They appear to arrive in flocks of large and small 

 numbers, and immediately on arriving drop down wherever they can find 

 a perch. Perhaps this is an instance of an altered habit. It is also possible 

 that only the first flock to arrive wheels and circles in the manner described. 



Soames' Island in Wellington Harbour in pre-war days was a 

 night retreat for starlings, which used to resort to it in immense 

 flocks. Since it became a place for interned German prisoners the 

 birds have largely abandoned it, on account of the number of people 

 about. 



The effects produced on the insect-life of the country by starlings, 

 and through that on the vegetable and other animal life, is incalculable. 

 They have nearly destroyed the grasshoppers which used formerly 

 to be so abundant, and many other groups of insects must have 

 suffered equally. They also remove great quantities of ticks from 

 sheep, and cattle, and help to keep insect pests from them. 



Indirectly they are credited by many observers with having exter- 



