14 FAMILIAR WILL BIRDS. 



upon the most destructive grubs and insects that exist. 

 When the pair have four or five young ones with inordinate 

 appetites to feed, the number of ground pests destroyed by 

 them is enormous ; indeed, it is not too much to say that a 

 lawn will not thrive without the assistance of Starlings. 

 Added to this, his extremely handsome appearance makes 

 him quite an object of beauty whilst walking about upon 

 the grass with the sun glinting upon his glossy and speckled 

 feathers. On a fine morning in the beginning of May we 

 watched a pair of Starlings busily engaged in ridding 

 several garden-beds of the slugs that would otherwise have 

 eaten off the tender young shoots. 



The Starling is a well-known bird, as it makes itself as 

 much at home in towns as in the country. Many may call 

 to mind being awakened at an unwonted hour in the 

 morning by the " song " of the Starling. This song is one 

 of the most peculiar specimens of bird music, and doubts 

 have arisen in many minds as to its deserving such a 

 description. It is generally (in town) delivered from a 

 chimney-pot, and he shrieks and chatters with such intense 

 gusto that there is no doubt the bird himself enjoys it. 

 This bird may be taught to talk. 



The Starling is about 8J inches in length, with a 

 moderately long beak, but somewhat short tail. The dif- 

 ference between the sexes is difficult to determine, but it 

 will be found that the breast-feathers of the male are 

 longer and more pointed than in the female ; and whilst 

 his eye will be found dark hazel, that of the female has 

 a light ring around the iris. 



Though these islands are never entirely free from the 

 Starling, those continuing here the winter are probably 

 arrivals from Sweden and Norway, driven along by the 



