38 STURNID^E. 



the end of March, but seldom reaches the Saskatchewan 

 before the beginning of May, and it does not pass beyond 

 the fifty-seventh parallel. On its first arrival in the fur- 

 countries it feeds on grubs ; but as soon as the grain sown 

 in the vicinity of the trading posts begins to germinate, it 

 associates itself with the Saffron-headed Maize-birds and 

 Boat-tails, and is occupied the whole day in tearing up 

 and devouring the sprouting plants, returning to the work 

 of devastation as often as driven away. It breeds in 

 swampy places, in Pennsylvania in the beginning of May, 

 and on the Saskatchewan about the twentieth of June. Its 

 eggs are of a pale bluish white, with a circle of spots and 

 streaks of dark liver-brown round the thick end, one or two 

 scattered spots of the same colour, and some faint blotches 

 of purplish grey." 



Some of the habits of this American bird being observed 

 to resemble some of those of our well-known Starling, next 

 to be described, obtained for it the name of Eed-winged 

 Starling, in illustration of which, Mr. Audubon, in his 

 recently completed work on the Birds of America, in 

 seven volumes, royal 8vo., says, " Towards evening they 

 alight in the marshes by millions, in compact bodies, settle 

 on the reeds and rushes close above the water, and remain 

 during the night, unless disturbed by the gunners. When 

 this happens, they rise all of a sudden, and perform various 

 evolutions in the air, now gliding low over the rushes, and 

 again wheeling high above them, preserving silence for 

 awhile, but finally diving suddenly to the spot formerly 

 chosen, and commencing a general chuckling noise, after 

 which they remain quiet during the rest of the night." 



The Yarmouth specimen, a male, has the bill shining 

 black ; the irides dark brown ; the head, neck, scapulars, 

 and the space between them, black ; the feathers below the 



