;340 INSESSORES. STURNUS. Starlixu. 



COMMON STARLING. 



Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. 

 PLATE XXXVI. Fig. 1. 



Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. SA'st. 1. p. 290. 1 Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 801. — Lath. 



Ind. Ornith. v. 1. p. 321. 1 Raii Syn. p. 67. A. i.— Will. p. 144. t. 37- 



— Briss. 2. p. 439. 1 Id. 8vo. 1. p. 280. 



Sturnus varius, Meyer., Tasschenb. Deut. v. 1. p. 208. 



L'Etounieau, Biiff. Ois. v. 3. p. 17G. t. 15 Id. PI. Enl. 75. 



L'Etourneau vulgaire, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. v. 1. p. 132. 



L'Etourneau commun, Cnvier, Reg. Anim. 1. p. 395. 



Gemeiner Star, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. v, 3. p. 816 FriscJi. Vog. t. 217- 



Stare or Starling, Br. Zool. 1. No. 104. t. 46 Arct. Zool. 2. p. 331. A 



Lewin's Br. Birds, 2. t. 56 Lath. Svn. 3. p. 2 Id. Supp. p. 137 Will. 



(Ang.) p. 196. p. 37 — Mont. Ornith. Diet Ptdt. Cat. Dorset, p. 8 



Bervick's Br. Birds, v. 1. p. 88 Id. App. p. 14. young Loiv''s Fau. Or- 

 ead, p. 54. 



The Starling is widely dispersed through Great Britain, 

 occurring as numerously in the Orkney and Shetland Isles as 

 in the southern parts of the kingdom. 



In the autumnal and hyemal months, these birds gather in 

 immense flocks, and are particularly abundant in the fenny 

 parts of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, where they roost 

 among the reeds. Before they retire to rest, they perform 

 Various manoeuvres in the air, the whole frequently describ- 

 ing rapid revolutions round a common centre. 



This peculiar flight will sometimes continue for nearly half 

 an hour, before they become finally settled for the night. 

 Nest, &c. Upon the approach of spring they pair, and spread them- 

 selves over the country. — They build in the holes of trees, or 

 in ruinous buildings, making an artless nest of dry grass or 

 hay, on which four or five eggs, of a bluish-green colour, are 

 Food, deposited. — Their food principally consists of worms and 

 other insects ; but they also eat grain and various seeds. Ac 

 cording to Mr Low, they feed in the Orkney Islands, du- 

 ring the severity of winter, upon the sea-louse [Pnucua ma- 



