IS THE STARLING DOUBLE-BROODED ? 369 



whether by its own or by foster parents I cannot say, and in due 

 course took wing. 



Mr. Paver Crow tells me that he always lets the Starlings nest 

 where they please about his buildings, even though they choose 

 the spouts for their home, because if they are allowed to get off their 

 young he has no further trouble with them. This certainly points to 

 the bird being single-brooded. 



Though not coming under the scope of the present inquiry, it 

 may interest readers of The Naturalist to know that in dry times 

 Starlings will leave the meadows to make descents upon strawberry 

 beds, and that when they do this they take all before them, whether 

 green or ripe. 



It is rather humiliating not to be able to give a direct answer to 

 this query. And yet the bird is common enough. Its nesting-place 

 is, as a rule, apparent, not to say conspicuous, and the bird is any- 

 thing but shy and retiring in its habits. One admires the methodical 

 way in which it visits the sheepfolds or hunts the grass in search of 

 food. The business-like manner, the quick step, the straight rapid 

 flight to the nest — all this we see and admire, but when we are asked a 

 simple question as to its nesting habits, we are at a loss for a decided 

 answer. What is the reason for this ? Is it that too much attention has 

 been given of late years to mere specimen-collecting as opposed to 

 the study of the life-history of birds ? That we are becoming cabinet 

 naturalists in place of field-naturalists ? We may be sure that the 

 possession of a long series of skins, be they labelled ever so accurately, 

 will not qualify the possessor to be regarded as a student of nature. 

 Whatever then be its outcome, the best thanks of naturalists are due 

 to Mr. F. S. Mitchell for suggesting this inquiry, for it has been the 

 means of calling forth many observers, and has resulted in many 

 interesting facts being recorded as to the habits of this useful bird. — 

 E. P. Knubley, Staveley Rectory. 



A pair of Starlings nested and hatched their young in the roof 

 of my house this summer. After the young ones were fledged, they 

 disappeared for some time, when the old pair returned, and after 

 carefully inspecting the hole for a day or two, just as they did in the 

 spring before they began to build, returned to it every night to sleep, 

 leaving early in the morning ; and remained there till last month, 

 since when I have not seen them. My boys tell me that they have 

 twice this year found Starlings' nests with an unfertile egg remaining 

 from the first brood, long after they would have laid again had they 

 intended to do so in the same nest. — R. A. Summerfield, North 

 Stainley Vicarage, Ripon, October 12th, 1889. 



Die. 1880. z 



