THE COMMOX STARLIXG. 103 



" I have generally found that the Bay a lays only two eggs, which are long, cylindrical, and pure 

 white, but other observers record a larger number. Suntlevall states that he found three in one nest. 

 Layard says from two to four; Burgess six to eight ; Tickell six to ten. Blyth thinks that four or five 

 is the most usual number. From many observations, I consider two to be the usual number, but have 

 found three occasionally. In those exceptional instances, where six or more eggs have been found, 

 I imagine they must have been the produce of more than one bird. The Baya is stated not to use the 

 same nest for two years consecutively, and this I can quite understand, without having actually 

 observed it." 



The Baya is frequently taken when young, tamed, and taught to pick \\p rings, or such like 

 articles dropped down a well ; or to snatch the ticca- work off the forehead of a person pointed out. 

 It is also taught occasionally to carry a note to a particular place, on a given signal. Mr. Blyth, in 

 an unpublished paper, has the following interesting account of some of this bird's performances: -"The 

 truth is, that the feats performed by trained Bayas are really very wonderful, and must be witnessed 

 to be fully credited. Exhibitors carry them about, we believe, to all parts of the country; and 

 the usual procedure is, when ladies are present, for the bird, on a sign from its master, to take a 

 sweetmeat in its bill, and deposit it between a lady's lips, and repeat this offering to every 

 lady present, the bird following the look and gesture of its master. A miniature cannon is then 

 brought, which the bird loads with coarse grains of powder one by one, or more commonly with 

 small balls of powder made up for the purpose; it next seizes and skilfully uses a small ramrod, 

 and then takes a lighted match from its master, which it applies to the touchhole. All this we 

 have personally witnessed, . in common with most persons who have resided in or even visited 

 India ; and we have seen the little bird apply the match five or six times successively before the 

 powder ignited, which it finally did with a report loud enough to alarm all the Crows in the 

 neighbourhood, while the little Baya remained perched on the gun, apparently quite elated with 

 its performance." Captain Tytler mentions also " the twirling of a stick with a ball of fire at each end. 

 This the bird turns in several ways round its head, making luminous circlets in imitation of a 

 native practice; the stick being held by the beak in the middle !" 



It is further asserted that " in an ordinary cage or aviary they will employ themselves constantly, 

 if allowed the chance, in intertwining thi-ead or fibres with the wires of their prison, merely grati 

 fying the constructive propensity, with apparently no further object, unless, indeed, the sexes are 

 matched, when they breed very readily in captivity, of course provided they are allowed sufficient 

 room, as in a spacious aviary." 



THE SECOND FAMILY OF THE STARLING-LIKE PERCHING BIRDS. 



THE STARLINGS (Stttrnidce) . 



The Starlings are found only in the Old World, where they form a very large and natural group. 

 They are distinguished by having moderate or long wings, with the first primary always short ; the 

 nostrils are oblong, covered with a small soft speculum on the upper edge, more or less feathered, but 

 having a naked edge of rather thicker texture ; the forehead is depressed and broad, and there are no 

 rictal bristles. In many species the feathers which cover the nostrils fall off when the bird becomes 

 old ; the feet are generally of large size, and robust, and their habits are generally gregarious, most of 

 them frequenting the ground, where they assemble in large flocks. There are two sub-families, the 

 tSttvrnince, or true Starlings, and the Buphagina, or Beef-eaters. 



THE FIRST SUB-FAMILY OF THE STURNID^E. THE TRUE STARLING (Sturnina). 

 Of this sub-family there are three divisions, the first containing the Starlings proper, of which 

 the British bird is the type; the second contains the Pastors and Old World Grakles, while in 

 the third division are comprised the Glossy Starlings. 



THE COMMON STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris). 



This is one of the most beautiful of our British birds, and is likewise an inhabitant of the whole 

 of Europe. In Asia Minor and Persia its place is taken by the Purple Starling (Sturnus purpurescens), 

 while in Siberia a third species takes its place, which extends to the Himalayas. The habits of the 

 English Starling have been so frequently described that a long account of them is not necessary. 



