330 THE STARLING. 



all they most frequently resort in summer and autumn, are the 

 cow-folds, where the farm stock is enclosed at night, and there, 

 before the cattle are let out, or at milking time, you may find 

 large flocks busily employed in searching among the old and 

 dried dung for larvae and worms, keeping up an incessant low 

 chatter, frequently perching for awhile on the cattle, and when 

 satisfied, reposing on the low walls of the field, where you may 

 shoot them by half dozens. In winter they frequent the corn 

 yards along with Linnets, Buntings, Larks, and wild Pigeons, to 

 obtain a few grains of oats, search the stubble grounds for seeds, 

 pick up small testaceous mollusca from the pastures, and occa- 

 sionally visit the shores to feed on marine worms. In spring 

 they find a supply of food in the newly-turned fields or patches 

 of ground ; in summer and autumn, they are furnished with 

 abundance of larvae and worms, found chiefly under the dung of 

 domestic animals, and they attack the corn in the same manner 

 as the Sparrow, although this kind of food is apparently less 

 agreeable to them than their more usual kind." 



In STANLEY'S Familiar History of Birds, will be found a good 

 account of the habits of this interesting species. It has been as- 

 serted that the male Starling does not feed its young ones ; ME. 

 WEIR, however, asserts that this is a fallacy, and proves that it is 

 so, from actual observation. 



With regard to the vocal powers of this bird, MACGILLIVRAY 

 says : " Almost all authors are agreed in reducing its natural 

 notes to ' a harsh scream, and a chatter or twitter;' but I have cer- 

 tainly heard them enumerate what to me, who am more senti- 

 mental than musical, appeared to be a very pleasant little song. 

 As a specimen of an accomplished Starling, I may here introduce 

 one visited by MR. SYME. ' We went one morning with a friend, 

 to see a collection of birds belonging to a gentleman in Antigua 

 Street, Edinburgh, and among these were some very fine Star- 

 lings one in particular, which cost five guineas. Breakfast was 

 ready before we entered the room. When the bird was pro- 

 duced, it flew to its master's hand, and distinctly pronounced 

 * Good morning, Sir, breakfast breakfast.' It afterwards 

 hopped to the table, examined every cup ; and while thus em- 

 ployed, it occasionally repeated 'Breakfast breakfast bread 

 and butter for Jack pretty Jack pretty Jack.' " 



MR. WEIR gives a similar account of another individual. " Mr. 

 Paton, carver and gilder, Horse Wynd, Edinburgh, had one a 

 few years ago, which I have heard pronounce most distinctly the 

 following sentences. When I entered the shop, he said to' me, 

 ' Come in, Sir, and take a seat I see by your face fhat you are 

 fond of the lasses George, send for a coach and six for pretty 



