212 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



Family STURNHXE. 



The Sturnidse include but three British species, 

 two of which are very rare, and neither of these am 

 I at present able to include amongst the birds of 

 Somerset. 



COMMON STARLING, Sturnus vulgaris. The third 

 in the list, the species at present under considera- 

 tion, is, however, exceedingly numerous, and seems 

 to be increasing in numbers : perhaps it partly owes 

 this increase to its immunity from the attacks of 

 Hawks : the Kestrel, our most common Hawk, will 

 not eat it ; the Sparrowhawk will eat it, but it pro- 

 bably prefers any other bird. 



The Starling is resident here all the year: at 

 times it makes its appearance in immense flocks, 

 consisting of many hundreds, even thousands, of 

 birds : these large flocks make their appearance in 

 our grass- fields and meadows, mostly in wet weather. 

 The appearance of one of these flocks on the wing 

 puts one in mind of a flock of Purres on the sea- 

 coast, as they turn and wind about somewhat in 

 the same manner : in fine dry weather they spread 

 more over the country, and their numbers do not 

 then appear so great : they all return, however, to 

 the same place to roost, generally to some shrubbery 

 or plantation of laurels or other evergreens. When 

 great flocks collect in some place of this sort to 



