BREEDING OF PASTOR ROSEUS IN VERONA. 21 
observed that, in the afternoon of the 13th, Rose-coloured Starlings 
assembled in very great numbers on the fruit trees in the garden 
of the castle—a signal for a general departure the next day. 
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A strong incentive to set at nought the law for the protection of 
these and other birds in the breeding season arose from the fact 
that the Rose-coloured Starlings were earnestly sought after from 
every quarter and paid for at the high price of from three to five 
lire a-piece. Ultimately twelve, fifteen and eighteen lire were 
asked for a pair—male and female. In this way some speculators 
made some hundreds of live by a clandestine trade which it was 
impossible altogether to stop. Of the young Starlings a real traffic 
was made, many persons having procured a considerable number. 
On the arrival of nearly every train at the Villafranca Station 
children and men stood ready to offer the travellers little cages 
with one or two Starlings in them, now known under the name of 
the “ famosi Storlini di Villafranca,” which the travellers thought 
themselves only too fortunate to secure. 
Some persons thought fit to affirm that the capture of Pastor 
roseus was necessary for the protection of the fruit, which they said 
suffered much more injury from the birds than could be counter- 
balanced by the destruction of the locusts. But the truth of this 
assertion can be directly denied, as well from the declarations of 
the country people of Villafranca as from the result of my own 
observations. I can safely assert that if the Rose-coloured Starlings 
sometimes ate cherries, the loss of this produce was always in 
such inconsiderable proportions as to make the statement incon- 
clusive. Greedy enough of fruit, on the other hand, did these 
poor birds prove when in captivity, and any one could see with 
what avidity they pounced upon the cherries, figs and pears that 
were given them, and particularly on mulberries. But one cannot 
be surprised at this, since they were in want of their chief natural 
food, locusts and other insects. It is certain that I have always 
seen them refuse fruit when it was possible to give them insects 
and chrysalids of silkworms in sufficient quantity. 
Having mentioned the Rose-coloured Starlings which were kept 
prisoners, | may add that they are very easily domesticated, and 
may be said to have the same habits as the Common Starling, 
whose vivacity and activity they possess in nearly ‘an equal degree, 
especially in seeking and contesting their food with their fellow- 
