182 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



that thej make disturbs the cottagers their nesting has been 

 repeatedly interfered with, which may account for the fact 

 that they have not increased much. This is the only authentic 

 occurrence of the starling in Rhode Island that has come to 

 my notice, but as Providence is many miles from Stonington, 

 Conn., the easternmost record hitherto recorded, starlings are 

 probably domiciled in other Rhode Island towns. 



The increase and spread of the starling is due to its fecun- 

 dity and its general fitness for the battle of life. It often 

 has two broods in America, as it has in Europe. I am satis- 

 fied of this by my own observation and by the statements of 

 other observers, and believe this to be the rule, although in 

 some localities I could find no evidence of a second brood. 

 On the other hand, it seems not improbable that a third brood 

 is sometimes reared ; but this needs confirmation. The star- 

 ling's physical fitness for the struggle for supremacy is seen 

 at once on an examination of its anatomy. It is a very 

 hardy, muscular and powerful bird. It has the physical 

 characteristics of a little crow. It is exceedingly tough and 

 wiry, and the bill, its principal weapon of oifense and de- 

 fense, is superior in shape to that of a crow. It is nearly 

 straight, long, heavy, tapering, and nearly as keen as a meat 

 axe, while the skull that backs it is almost as strong as that 

 of a woodpecker. Mentally the starling is superior to the 

 sparrow, and while brave and active in the face of any foe 

 that it can master, it shows the acme of caution and intelli- 

 gence in its relations with man or any other creature too pow- 

 erful for it to cope with. While it is comparatively fearless 

 where it is unmolested, it is always on its guard, and if hunted 

 becomes more wary than a crow. It is a handsome bird, and 

 though it has little merit as a songster, it has many pleasant 

 whistling and chattering notes and some talent as a mimic. 

 Its alarm note is a harsh, rasping, low-pitched call. 



Its insect-eating habits, its beauty and its cheery notes 

 have already made it many strong friends in this country who 

 will stoutly protect it, and this protection, together with the 

 bird's ability to take care of itself and keep out of danger, 

 precludes all possibility of its extermination here if it proves 

 undesirable. 



