230 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



two sets of individuals. To be sure, occasionally during the first 

 days of June, quite isolated old birds, not only of Starlings, but also 

 of members of other species may occur, for the most part in much 

 worn breeding plumage ; these, however, are examples which either 

 have not bred at all, or whose brood has been destroyed, or which 

 have lost their mates, and in consequence of such experiences have 

 left their nesting places before their proper time ; but such indi- 

 viduals have no connection with the young birds that make their 

 appearance one or two weeks later, for these invariably travel alone 

 and independent of the parent birds ; the latter, as is proved from 

 the above entries, following them only after they have completed 

 their autumn moult about two months later. 



The gunners of Heligoland pursue the young Starlings very 

 actively on account of their very tender and appetising flesh. With 

 what success this pursuit is sometimes crowned, may be illustrated 

 by one instance in which Glaus Aeuckens bagged eighty-three 

 young Starlings by once firing off the two barrels of his gun. 

 Old birds are dry and tough, and it would hardly be possible to kill 

 a third part of the same number in two shots. 



The Starling breeds numerously throughout the whole of 

 central and northern Europe, and within the same parallels of 

 latitude throughout the whole of Asia. 



62. Bose-coloured Starling [ROSENFARBIGER STAAR]. 

 STURNUS ROSEUS, Brisson. 1 



Heligolandish : Stuur- Amsel = The Beautifid Blackbird. 



Sturnus roseus. Naumann, ii. p. 206. 



Rose-coloured Starling. Dresser, iv. p. 423. 



Martin roselin. Temminck, Manuel, p. 136, iii. p. 76. 



This beautiful bird has been seen about forty times, and in most 

 cases also shot, within the last fifty years. Like all south-eastern 

 species, it makes its appearance chiefly in June, but has sometimes 

 been met with even in August ; thus, among <5ther instances, eight 

 old birds of this species were shot here in August 1853. It appears 

 that we are here really dealing with the normal autumn passage of 

 individuals which have travelled beyond the usual limits of their 

 spring migration, these irregular journeys extending frequently to 

 England, Scotland, and even to the Orkney and Shetland Islands. 

 What is still more surprising is the occurrence, late in the season, 

 of young birds of the year which are still in their grey early 

 plumage; thus, in September 1860, I obtained three such indi- 



1 Pastor roseus (Linn. ). 



