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that the Starlings are at such times hawking for 

 flies : this I very much doubt, as this soaring 

 always takes place at a time when their food is 

 plenty and easily attainable on the ground; and 

 accordingly many may be seen busily engaged in the 

 search for food on the ground at the same time that 

 others are soaring. 



The nest of the Starling is generally placed in 

 a hole in a wall, or under the thatch or tiles of a 

 cottage, in some other building, or in an old ruin : 

 when such places as these cannot be found a hole in 

 a tree seems to suit equally well: it is made of 

 twigs, straw, hay, dry grass and roots. The nest is 

 generally placed rather deep in the hole, generally 

 too much so for the hand to reach, and the hole 

 through which the bird enters is generally too small 

 for the hand. I think also the Starling prefers a 

 place for its nest where it has two entrances, so that 

 if stopped at the one it may escape from the not 

 over-tender attentions of young birdnesters by a 

 back door ; at least this appears to be the case in 

 my orchard, where many Starlings build every year, 

 and all the holes selected are such as have two 

 entrances, although many other holes apparently 

 equally suitable may be found, but if they do not 

 possess this convenience they are always neglected. 



The Starling is very easily tamed, and is very 

 amusing in confinement : it readily learns to whistle 

 various tunes, and to a certain extent it may be 



