COMMON STARLING. 157 



THE COMMON STARLING. 



STURNUS VULGARIS. 



Druit. 



THIRTY years ago the Starling was comparatively a scarce bird 

 over the whole of the Scottish mainland. So far as I can ascertain, 

 it has been well known in the outer islands as a permanent resident 

 from time immemorial, but in cultivated districts its appearance at 

 any season of the year has been an event so recent as to have 

 excited universal attention. At the present time it is a constant 

 resident in and near large towns, and exists in such numbers as 

 frequently to cause remark among persons usually unobservant of 

 the phenomena of bird life. Within the limits of the city of Glas- 

 gow thousands of Starlings live throughout the year, and may be 

 seen almost at any time, with the exception of a few weeks in the 

 dead of winter, perched on the ornamental work of church spires 

 and the roofs of houses, or hurrying overhead in small companies 

 when taking their flights into the outskirts for a change. During 

 summer, numbers may be observed sitting on the chimney-tops 

 uttering their soft and not unmusical chatterings, which they 

 sometimes enliven with an impudent whistle as if inviting atten- 

 tion. These modulated notes appear to be a kind of love song 

 uttered by the male, whose performance is not unfrequently in- 

 terrupted in the spring time by the strains of some rival minstrel 

 subsiding into a shrill cry of " all serene." 



In country districts the Starling seems partial to low-lying 

 grounds or meadows subject to periodical overflow on both east and 

 west coasts. I have observed this partially shewn in our larger estu- 

 aries where the brackish water covers a considerable extent of salt 

 marsh at high tide, and leaves a richly spread table for the birds at 

 low ebb. The Starling, indeed, is found in much greater abundance 

 in moist or swampy districts than elsewhere a habit which is 

 doubtless due to their preference for worms and other soft-bodied 

 animals which are plentiful in such places. I have observed that 

 in counties like Ayrshire and Wigtownshire, which are com- 

 paratively well drained, there is a partial migration in autumn. 

 Considerable flocks have been seen by myself and my colleague 

 Mr Anderson flying southwards from Girvan and Ballantrae, and 

 we have been informed that multitudes frequently congregate in 



