3 66 



IS THE STARLING (STURNUS VULGARIS) 

 DOUBLE-BROODED ? 



The answer to this question, relating as it does to one of our 

 commonest and most familiar birds, is, it would appear, not an easy 

 one, even with the aid of the host of modern bird-books, including 

 those of the recognised masters. Thus, to take two examples : 

 Prof. Newton (Yarrell's British Birds, ii. 234) says, regarding the 

 rearing of two broods in a year, 'such an occurrence seems to be 

 very rare in this country'; while Mr. Seebohm — who claims to be 

 original in all things ornithological, and cannot, it is thought, be 

 denied that claim in this particular connection — tells us (British Birds, 

 ii. 14) that the ' Starling, in most cases, rears two broods in the year, 

 sometimes three, though this has been denied.' 



We must thank Mr. Mitchell for bringing this vexed question 

 under the notice of our readers. We are gratified to find that it has 

 resulted in a crop of notes on the subject, made during the past 

 breeding-season, being sent to us, and we now print them, for 

 convenience, under a common heading. These contributions, 

 interesting and valuable as they are, will not be regarded by all as 

 furnishing a satisfactory solution of the question, since the opinions 

 expressed are decidedly divided. 



Perhaps I may be here allowed to give my own observations on 

 the subject. A pair of Starlings have their breeding-quarters on the 

 roof of a building on a level with, and only about ten feet from, the 

 windows of my room in the Museum. Here, contrary to the obser- 

 vations of the authorities quoted, they were daily to be seen all 

 through the last autumn and winter, but I am not sure that they 

 roosted in the nest-hole, which is under the spouting, though they 

 popped in and out of it continually in the daytime. A brood was 

 reared here in the spring, and left the place of their birth, along 

 with their parents, about the 5th of June. No more Starlings were 

 seen until the 5th of October, when the old birds returned, and are 

 now seen daily over and about the nest, which they frequently enter 

 for a few moments. 



The notes contributed are arranged under two headings : — 



I. Those in favour of single-broodedness, and which regard 

 double-breeding as an exceptional circumstance. These are placed 

 first, because it is thought that single-broodedness must be con- 

 sidered the rule. 



II. Those devoted to upholding the double-breeding as general, 

 and single-broodedness as exceptional. — W. Eagle Clarke, 

 Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh. 



Naturalist, 



