THE RED-WINGED STARLING. 555 



known Red -winged Starling of Northern America {Tderus 

 Phmniceus). 



This beautiful bird derives its popular name from the fiery 

 scarlet of the lesser wing-coverts, contrasting so boldly with the 

 jet black of the remaining plumage. It is known by several op- 

 probious names in its own country, such as Corn -thief, Maize- 

 thief, etc., because it is popularly thought to live upon corn, 

 whereas, like our starling, it is a most insatiable eater of the 

 grubs, caterpillars, and other creatures which infest the corn- 

 fields, and only eats corn at a certain time. There is, however, 

 one season in the year in which the Red-winged Starling becomes 

 an arrant thief. 



It is said that every living creature can be bribed, if the right 

 bribe can only be found, and in the case of this bird, the newly- 

 developed maize-grains present a temptation which it can not re- 

 sist. It is not alone in this predilection, for there are many other 

 birds, and some quadrupeds, the bear being the most conspic- 

 uous, which revel in the sweet, pulpy, succulent Indian corn. 

 Even mankind is overcome with this delicacy. The white man 

 fills his pockets with the plump ears, and munches them as he 

 goes on with his business, and the copper -skinned native half 

 stupefies himself by gorging the cream-like grains. Small blame, 

 therefore, to the bird for following an example which is set by its 

 superiors. But before the maize is developed, and after it is 

 hardened, the Red-winged Starling depends chiefly on insect food 

 for its subsistence, and is, therefore, a truly useful bird, deserving 

 to be protected rather than destroyed, and only requiring to be 

 driven out of the maize - plantations for a week or two in the 

 course of the year. 



The nest of this bird is almost always built in morasses where 

 reeds are plentiful, and in such places it almost invariably roosts, 

 flocking to them toward nightfall in vast masses that absolutely 

 blacken the air, now appearing as a vast dull cloud, and now 

 suddenly flecked with blood-red patches, as the black bodies and 

 scarlet wings are alternately turned to the spectator. 



Somewhere about the end of April the Red-winged Starling 

 begins to make its nest. This is sometimes placed on the ground, 

 sometimes on a grass tussock, and sometimes in a branch, thus 

 being more variable in position than is the nest of any other bird. 

 The mode of structure and materials of the nest differ with the 

 locality. 



