GARDEN AND ORCHARD BIRD-LIFE. 43 



nature of Chapel Hill, just above Torre Station, 

 and containing some of the finest evergreen oak- 

 trees in the kingdom, are a favourite resort of 

 these birds ; and here too, we may mention that the 

 squirrel is by no means uncommon. The Starling, 

 as might possibly be expected, is common and 

 universally distributed. If earlier records are 

 trustworthy, however, this species has extended 

 its breeding area to an enormous extent during 

 the past fifty years. Everywhere it seems to be 

 on the increase, a fact which is regarded by 

 most gardeners with dismay. Within the limits 

 of Torquay the gatherings of Starlings in the 

 late summer months are sometimes enormous, 

 and their regular movements most entertaining. 

 Several recognised roosting places occur ; and in 

 these at dusk the birds congregate in chattering 

 hosts, keeping up their noisy converse more or 

 less intermittently throughout the entire night 

 Such a vast concourse of Starlings usually 

 occupies the low chestnut and oak trees in 

 the grounds fronting Torre Abbey. The aerial 

 movements of these flocks are beautiful and 

 curious in the extreme, resembling the collapse 

 and inflation of a huge balloon, or the spreading 



