No. 4.] REPORT OP^ STATE ORNITHOLOGIST. 175 



not seem to have been generally noted. Mr. Clinton G. 

 Abbott, who is very familiar with the bird in Europe, writes 

 me that he considers its pugnacious nature to be by far the 

 most serious objection to the starling, and that no birds 

 which nest in holes can have any peace at all until all the 

 starlings are satisfied. " ]\lany a time," he writes, "■ have 

 I noticed the British woodpeckers laboriously boring holes 

 in the hard wood, only to find that after a couple of weeks' 

 work a pair of starlings had laid claim to the apartment." 

 The woodpecker never gives up without a fight, but the 

 starling is always victorious, and " the next day trailing 

 straws from the entrance of the cavity show the presence of 

 these new and slovenly tenants." The pugnacity of the star- 

 ling does not seem to be generally noted in the works of 

 European ornithologists, but apparently at times they have 

 battles among themselves. The following copy of an ancient 

 tract, for which I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Samuel 

 N. Rhoads of Haddonfield, IST. J., is both quaint and in- 

 teresting. 



The Wonderful Battel of Starlings: 



Fought at the City of Cork, in Ireland, the 12th and llih of 

 October 1621. As it hath been credibly informed by divers 

 noblemen and others of the said Kingdom-, etc. London, 

 Printed for N. B. 1622. 

 Cork is a City in the West of Ireland, in the Province of Mun- 

 sier; for Situation, and all Commodities, which Sea or Land may 

 afford, not inferior to any City in that Country. About the 7th of 

 October last, Anno 1621, there gathered together, by Degrees, an 

 unusual Multitude of Birds called Stares, in some Countries known 

 by the Name of Starling's. Quality bold and venturous, among 

 Ihemselves very loving, as may appear by their Flights, keeping 

 together all Times of the Year, excepting the Breeding-Time. It 

 is, and hath been an old Proverb, that Birds of a Feather hold and 

 keep together; which hath even been a common Custom in these 

 as much as in any other Kind whatsoever : But now the old Proverb 

 is changed, and their Custom is altered clean contrary. For at this 

 Time, as these Birds are in Taste bitter, so they met to fight to- 

 gether the bitterest and sharpest Battel among themselves, the like, 

 for the Manner of their Flight, and for the Time the Battel did 

 conliinie, never heard or seen at any Time, in any Country of the 

 World. (I believe) 



