538 CLASS AVES. 



which they call the Samarmar, to come to the succour of the 

 crops, which are attacked by myriads of locusts. The Turks 

 esteem it a sacred bird, and will not suffer it to be killed in their 

 presence. It would be well if their example was more generally 

 imitated with respect to all birds that render similar services to 

 mankind. 



The rose-blackbird has some analogy of habits and dispo- 

 sition with the stare. Like the latter, it is fond of herds and 

 flocks, and will perch upon the animals for the purpose, no 

 doubt, of searching for the insects which lodge in their hair 

 and skin. This species too, like the stare, flies in large flocks, 

 and makes its nest in the holes of rocks ; besides locusts, it feeds 

 on various other insects, especially such as live in dunghills. 

 It also eats berries and tender fruits. 



It would appear that this blackbird has no song, at least 

 ornithologists and travellers make no mention of it. According 

 to Forskel, its cry is heard at a great distance, and may be ex- 

 pressed thus : tr, fr, tr. 



This species appears spread through the hottest and coldest 

 parts of the old Continent. Forskel has seen it on the burning 

 sands of Arabia, and in the plains of Aleppo, in July and 

 August. Le Vaillant has met with it in Africa, as high as 24° 

 south latitude. It has been sent into this country from Bengal. 

 Pallas has found it in the north of Siberia, in the mountainous 

 vicinity of the Irtish, where it nestles. Very numerous flocks 

 of these birds traversed Provence and Piedmont, in the autumn 

 of 181 7. They are found in the mountains of Lapland, are 

 common on the shores of the Caspian, near Astracan, and 

 along the entire extent of the Volga. They pass every year in 

 large flocks into the southern part of Russia. 



The rose-coloured blackbirds, which are seen on the Con- 

 tinent, come only during the passage time of other birds ; at 

 this period many are observed in Burgundy, Klein assures us, 

 that they have a name in Spanish, Avhich indicates that they 

 are known in Spain. Aldrovandus, the first naturalist who 



