o?i Jotthigs from Scotla7id.



79



district I recently observed a pair of Starlings in possession of a

deserted Magpie’s nest in a Scotch elm—an unusual nesting-

place for the Starling.


In this county of Ayrshire the Starling ( Stumius vulgaris ,

Linn.) is probably the commonest bird we have at present, yet

in the Statistical Accozmt of Scotlaiid published in 1837 one is

astonished to read that in Ayrshire “ the Starling is a rare bird,

but not altogether unknown ” ; and in a list ol rare visitors

known to have occurred in a local parish, its name appears along

with those of the Quail, Roller, and Turtle Dove. It seems to have

been about this time that the Starling first became a resident

species in Ayrshire, and its subsequent enormous increase is pro¬

bably chiefly owing to the better draining of the land (tile¬

draining was first introduced at this period), and the consequent

wealth of insect life, particularly larval forms such as Tipula

oleracea and various species of Agrotides, etc., in the soil ; for

insects do not abound in a cold, sour, damp medium, and

Starlings instinctively shun such lauds. Then the widening of

the area of pasturage must also be taken into account, and above

all the natural fecundity of the Starling in suitable districts. I

think it is Mr. Dixon who confesses to have taken no less than

forty eggs from one pair during a single season.


I have lately had a good opportunity of substantiating by

personal experience the assertions of ornithologists regarding

the imitative powers of the Starling in its wild state. A bird of

this species, perched upon the ridge-pole of a cottage near the

shore, saluted me one day with the crow of a domestic cock, then

followed the wild piping note of the Redshank ( Totanus calidris,

Linn.), a common bird about the coast, and the harsh cries of the

Gulls which nightly assemble on our rocks, and whose noise

reminds one of what old Gilbert White says of the Peacock’s cry,

that “ the yelling of cats and the braying of an ass is not more

disgustful ” ; the alarm-note of the Blackbird was also excellently

imitated.


I do not remember ever having witnessed the Starlings

Swallow-like habit of catching winged insects in mid-air, but

during sultry July weather I have seen numbers of Black¬

headed Gulls ( Larus ridib 7 t?idtis, Linn.) engaged in this



