

GREAT JJOAT-TAIL. — l^^utscalus major. 



that infest them. Fi-om the slieep the Starling often takes toll, pulling out a beakful of 

 wool now and then, and caiTying it away to its nest. It is a voracious bird, the stomach 

 of one of these birds having been found to contain more than twenty shells, some of no 

 small size and all nearly perfect ; a great number of insects, and some grain. Another 

 Starling had eaten fifteen molluscs of different kinds, a number of perfect beetles, and 

 many grubs. 



Tlie Starling is easily tamed, and is a most amusing as well as a graceful pet. It is 

 an admirable talker, and can be taught to repeat words and phrases nearly as well as a 

 parrot. Some ignorant and cruel people have a horrid custom of slitting the tongue of 

 the Starling, in order to enable it to speak ; a proceeding which is not only entirely 

 ineffectual, but often causes the death of the poor bird. 



The colour of this bird is very beautiful, and is briefly as follows : The general tint 

 is an extremely dark purplish green, having an almost metallic glitter in a strong light. 

 The feathers of the shoulders are tipped with buff, and the wing-coverts, together with the 

 ([uill-feathers of the tail and wings, are edged with pale reddish brown. The beak is a 

 fine yellow. The feathers of the upper part of the breast are elongated and pointed. 

 This is the plumage of the adult male, and is not brought to its perfection until three 

 years have elapsed. The first year's bird, before its autunnial moult, is almost wholly of 

 a brownish grey, and after its moult is partly brown and partly purple and green. In the 

 second year the plumage is more decided in its tints, but is variegated with a great 

 number of light-coloured spots on the under and upper surfaces, and the beak does not 

 attain its beautiful yellow tinge. 



The Quiscalinre, or Boat-tailed Birds, are so named from the peculiar formation of 

 their tails, which, as may be seen on reference to the illustration, are hollowed in a manner 

 somewhat similar to the interior of a canoe. There are several species of Boat-tails, all 

 being natives of America, and being spread over the greater part of that vast country. 

 One of the best known species is the Great Boat-tail, or Great Crow Blackbird, as it 

 is sometimes called. 



