ioo THE ROSE STARLING 



an enormous number of these insects, and that, in places 

 where human defences can do nothing; in this consists 

 the value of its actions. 



Among the grasshoppers found in Hungary at the 

 present time are the Stauronatus maroccanus and in 

 smaller numbers the Colopterus italicus, the latter of 

 which belongs naturally to the Hungarian fauna. 



The note of the Rose Starling is a harsh and con- 

 tinuous babble. This bird is protected in the Caucasus 

 and elsewhere because locusts are the favourite food of 

 both the old and the young birds. In the East it is said 

 to be, however, very injurious to grain during the colder 

 season; also I believe, in Africa. This beautiful bird 

 has occurred of late years in most parts of Great Britain, 

 but only, alas, to be shot and " stuffed." As a rule it 

 visits us in summer and autumn, single birds, perhaps 

 separated somehow from flocks of their own species. 

 In such a case they generally join our own Starlings. 



This beautiful species is the same size as its congener, 

 the Common Starling, and it resembles the latter in 

 form although so much smarter in appearance. Rump, 

 back, shoulders, breast and underparts are a bright rosy 

 pink, head, neck and throat are a glossy black, wings 

 and tail 'are a metallic greenish-black. The bill is a 

 yellowish-pink, black at the base; legs yellowish-brown. 

 The long crest of the adult male is composed of fine 

 violet-black feathers. The female is not so brightly 

 tinted and has a smaller crest. The nest of the Rose 

 Starling is built in its own native home in south-eastern 

 Europe in some crevice in a ruin in quarries, cliffs, or 

 .among stones in a ravine or a railway cutting. The 

 clutch consists of five to six eggs of a pale bluish-white 

 colour, or pale bluish-green. 



