no THE BIRDS OF THE WOODS 



where the trees are no larger than shrubs. A bold bird, even when facing man, 

 the nutcracker is strong and impetuous, and an active climber, although not 

 so restless as the jay, which it resembles in being a notorious nest - robber, 

 attacking young fledglings, seizing them with its beak, trampling on them and 

 pecking out their brains. It also eats large insects — even wasps and bees — as well 

 as small snails, and besides these is very partial to acorns and hazel-nuts. If the 

 nuts are fresh, the bird cracks them in its beak with a noise that can be heard 

 at some distance. When, however, the nuts are old and hard it takes them between 

 its claws, as do the tits, and hammers them till they crack. It also resembles the 

 tits in its habit of clinging to pine-cones to break up their scales and peck out the 

 seeds. The nutcracker begins to nest early in the year, about the middle of 

 March, and generally chooses groups of pines in large forests in which to build. 

 The nest is usually placed on some slender bough of a large fir or pine, at a height 

 of from 17 to 25 feet from the ground. The bird is conspicuous owing to its 

 dark brown plumage being ornamented with white spots, and a distinctive 

 feature is its tail, which is tipped with white. 



Little in the way of description need be said concerning: such a 

 Starling. . . . . 



familiar bird as the starling (Sturnus vulgaris), which on the 



Continent, especially if water be close at hand, lives in deciduous forests, particu- 

 larly where oaks abound, and in the neighbourhood of pastures, although it may 

 be found in places that are almost devoid of trees, as for instance in the Alps, on the 

 seashore, and in towns. Barren districts are only visited by the starling on its 

 migration, from which it arrives in central Europe sometimes as early as 

 January if the weather be warm, though it often disappears for a time if cold 

 weather return. It arrives in greater numbers in February and March ; the young 

 leave in June, and from that month the migration goes on throughout September. 

 October, and November. All starlings, however, do not migrate; and, in England, 

 Germany, and other countries there are always some that stay throughout the 

 winter. The starling nests in a hole at some distance from the ground, and cai-es 

 not if it be in a tree, a cliff, a wall, a roof, or a chimney ; and it will also use the 

 nesting-boxes hung up for its use, wherever it is possible to fix them at the 

 needful height. In the northern parts of its breeding area — as, for instance, 

 Schleswig-Holstein — there is only one brood a year, and in many parts of northern 

 and central Germany it is rare to find two broods, although this is the rule in 

 southern Germany. The nest usually contains eggs in the latter half of April, the 

 second clutch being laid in June ; and it is worth noting that for this second brood 

 the starling often covers its nest with green leaves, and occasionally builds it on 

 trees. When the young have left the nest, they do not remain long in the 

 neighbourhood but migrate in large flocks to the south ; the old birds not start- 

 ing until a month or two later. Just before they go, the cocks return to the nest 

 during the day, and step in and out, while they sing with drooping wings as if 

 taking leave. 



Worms and insects, the latter particularly as larvae, are the favourite food of 

 the starling ; but it also eats snails and slugs and other farm and garden pests, and 

 at times does much damage to orchard produce. It hunts for vermin on the backs 



