164



Military Starlings.



MILITARY STARLINGS.


By Mrs. E. Warren Vernon.


I have a pair of Military Starlings (Trapealis de philippi )

and it may be of some interest to members to have a short

account of them. Mr. Philip Gorse, in his article in this maga¬

zine under the title of “ Notes on some birds in the Andes in

the neighbourhood of Auncagua,” says: “I do not know why

these birds are not freely imported, as they have everything in

their favour as aviary birds.” I can fully endorse this, they are

most gentle towards the other inmates of my conservatory-aviary,

and these consist of Waxbills, Nightingales, Long-tailed Tits,

etc., so there is a variety for them to quarrel with if so inclined ;

and, considering their long punishing bills and heavy build, it

is the more remarkable, as I think Starlings usually are most

aggressive.


Both these birds have lovely red breasts, the cock bird

especially so. They both sing a really pretty song and very

loud, and the scarlet breast adds to the attractiveness of them as

inmates of the aviary. They eat a good deal of seed, Parrot

mixture, besides soft food and insects, and I found them eating a

raw beetroot that was put in for some Agouti.


There are some hot-water pipes under the floor, which

let the heat up through an ornamental iron opening, and in

the cold weather the two birds used to squat over this place, so I

put a box with open side and no floor to it, and they used to go

and sit inside; it must have been like a Turkish bath, but they

seemed to love it.


I have two Agouti, and they run with the birds very

happily ; the Starlings, however, are quite masters, and before the

young Agouti was born they used to lie in front of the Augoutis

bed and would not allow the Agouti to enter. Now, however,

there are two babies, and the parents do not mind the Starlings

any more. The cock bird used to drive the Agouti away from

the food for pure mischief, and it used to give me a good deal

of amusement watching them.


I should be glad to know if other members have kept

these amusing birds, and if they have ever been known to breed

in captivity.



