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NEST AND EGGS OF THE STARLING. 



PLATE II. 



Starlings make their nests in old buildings, such as 

 castles, towers, Sec. and sometimes in the clefts of rocks. 



The nest before me is formed of straw in the lower 

 part, in the middle with a coarse kind of hay, and the 

 inner coat or lining of fine soft hay, with a few feathers. 

 The whole is a rude and loosely compacted fabrick, 

 neither firm nor handsome. 



In this nest was four egg-s about the size of those of 

 the throstle, they are of a pale bright blue, with a cast 

 of green, and are destitute of spots. 



The Starling is not valued for his own song, but for 

 the beauty of his plumage, for his docility and aptness 

 in learning to whistle or to speak. 



Those who wish to have good birds for caging, 

 should have them taken out of the nest at three or four 

 days old; for if they are suffered to remain ten or 

 twelve days in the nest, they will retain, for their whole 

 lives, too much of their own harsh notes and disagree- 

 able scream. 



As soon as they are taken out of the nest, they may 

 be kept in a small basket, with soft dry moss. Let them 

 be kept reasonably warm, and fed often, giving them but 

 little at a tiijie. Let the moss be renewed every day, and 

 let them at all times be kept dry and clean, for on this 

 care depends your success. Such tunes or notes as you 

 wish them to learn, should be played or whistled to 

 them, from the first day you take them out of the nest. 



