The Bird Book 



some up-to-date Sparrows in Mile End had adopted 

 the flat system. There were no less than four 

 nests in one erection, and a family was success- 

 fully reared in each storey ! 



Another nester among the eaves is the Starling, 

 no less interesting, if somewhat more shy, than 

 the Sparrow. A hole running right up under 

 the roof is almost sure to tempt him, and when 

 once he has taken up his abode, he returns faith- 

 fully to it year after year. It would be difficult 

 to imagine a more greedy or noisy brood than his, 

 yet he appears to undertake his housekeeping 

 duties with a light heart, and no sooner is one 

 lot off his hands than he begins to think of 

 another. Both birds are kept busy in a vain 

 attempt to satisfy the young. The lawn and 

 neighbouring fields are ransacked for worms and 

 grubs, and constant journeys have to be made 

 to and from the nest, each arrival of a parent 

 bird serving as a signal for an outburst of squeal- 

 ing on the part of the family. One would think 

 they must be glad when the approach of winter 

 puts an end to their arduous labours, and young 

 and old fly off to join the vast flocks which 

 assemble in the fields, take rides on the backs 

 of sheep, and help the Rooks and Jackdaws 

 account for a prodigious number of grubs in- 

 jurious to the farmer. 



As a songster the Starling is not great. Per- 

 haps he is too closely related to the Crows for 



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