STARLING. 



In Canna I have seen a little tree quite covered with them. 

 They began to come here a few years ago, and a good many stay 

 all the year round, and live in the dovecot among the pigeons. 

 Some try to build in the chimneys of the house (if the rooms are 

 empty and fireless), filling them up yards deep with sticks, which 

 are very difficult to get out, even with the help of a long wire 

 with a hooked end. One has to light an occasional fire to drive 

 them away with the smoke, and prevent their repeating the 

 offence, which they are only too ready to do. 



Starlings seem to me to be much more numerous in Scotland 

 than I remember them long ago, both in town and country. 

 There are many in the old parts of Glasgow, and as soon as the 

 New University Buildings were finished they began to inhabit 

 them. I have seen them in the greatest numbers at Canterbury, 

 where they swarm, along with the Jackdaws, in the Cathedral 

 and Deanery. 



90 



