156 RED-WINGED STARLING. 



evening begin to close in, millions assemble together in the 

 marshes and beds of reeds, and there, unless disturbed, they 

 pass the night. If, however, a gun is fired, up 'en masse' 

 the whole population arises, and performs every variety of 

 evolution in the air, now wheeling high overhead, now gliding 

 close to the surface, silent while on the wing, but commencing 

 a loud and clamorous chuckling on alighting, after which 

 they remain quiet during the rest of the night. The vast 

 and countless multitudes of these birds which thus unite 

 together, present in their various phases an aspect which 

 Wilson describes as grand and even sublime. At times they 

 come on like a huge black cloud, driven before the wind 

 with impetuous force, or suddenly rise from the ground with 

 a noise like thunder. Now they alight on a sudden, descending 

 to some resting-place like a torrent, and, again on the wing, 

 they present a splendid appearance, the innumerable wings of 

 the vast body glittering like an army, their vermilion uniform 

 shining all the brighter in the sun from its contrast with 

 the rest of their sable plumage: or the latter is turned 

 towards you a changeable 'Rouge et noir,' your indulgence, 

 however, in the amusement of which will leave no vexation 

 or trouble behind, but the peaceful delight which the con- 

 templation of nature never fails to yield to the devout. 



Towards the beginning or middle of August the young 

 birds begin to fly in flocks, and chiefly associate by themselves, 

 there being sometimes not more than two or three old males 

 observed in a flock of many thousands. These birds are sold 

 for eating, but they are considered rather dry and tough. 

 Like their European cousins, they become very docile in 

 captivity, and may easily be taught to repeat short phrases, 

 or to whistle tunes with great exactness. While the female 

 is sitting, and still more so after the young are hatched, 

 the male exhibits great uneasiness if any intruder approaches 

 the nest; and if the danger appears to increase, his anxiety 

 and restlessness increase with it, until the neighbouring birds 

 are alarmed likewise, and mingle their notes of distress and 

 agitation with his. 



An astonishing quantity of grain is devoured by these 

 birds, who are therefore under the ban of the farmer, but, 

 says Audubon, that they have proved highly serviceable 

 before they have commenced their ravages is equally certain. 

 As soon as the corn begins to germinate, the Red- winged 

 Starling, in company with other devastating species, is occu- 



