THE STARLING. 26? 



Description Murks of the cock-bird. 



THE STARLING. 



FEW birds are more generally known than 

 the starling; being an inhabitant of almost all 

 climates, and sufficiently common in every part 

 of England. The whole plumage .is dark and 

 glossed with blue purple and copper; each fea- 

 ther being marked at the end with a light yellow 

 spot ; the wing-coverts are edged with yellowish 

 brown; the quill and tail feathers are dusky with 

 light edges; the legs are of a reddish brown. 

 The length of a full grown bird from the tip of 

 its bill to the end of his tail is nine inches. Its 

 bill is straight, and depressed. The nostrils are 

 guarded above by a prominent rim. The tongue 

 is hard and cloven ; and the middle toe is con- 

 nected to the outermost as far as the first joint. 



The starling bears a very great resemblance to 

 the blackbird, the young in particular being so 

 much alike, that it is scarcely possible to distin- 

 guish them from each other. There is a mark 

 peculiar to the cock of this kind, whereby he 

 may be known from the hen, whilst young. 

 Under his tongue he has a black stroke, very 

 plain to be seen on Opening his mouth, which 

 the hen has not, or at least so faint, that it is 

 hardly visible ; but the first time the cock moults 

 his feathers, he loses that black stroke : he may 

 then be known from the hen by his colours, in 

 the beauty of which he much excels her. His 

 2 L 2 



