66 TREATISE ON 



Wlien tamed, their food is the same as that given 

 to blackbirds and thrushes ; and they are, in every 

 respect, managed in the same manner as these 

 birds. Stares are fond of society, and will asso- 

 ciate, for want of better company, with crows, 

 rooks, jackdaws, pigeons, and redwings. They 

 take little trouble to provide a place for their pro- 

 geny, frequently laying their eggs in the nest of 

 the woodpecker; and the latter sometimes pays 

 them back the friendly compliment. When star- 

 lings construct a nest for themselves, they merely 

 collect some grass and moss in a hole of a tree, 

 rock, or old tower, and upon this artless bed the 

 female deposits from four to six eggs, of a pale 

 bluish -green colour, inclining to very pale verditer 

 blue. It also builds in old castles, rocks by the 

 sea-side or inland, holes in high walls, and in 

 dovecotes. In the last they are sometimes taken 

 in great numbers. It is said they suck the eggs 

 of pigeons ; but this we believe to be untrue 

 They breed in May, and the female sits about 18 

 days. The young may be taken about 10 days 

 old, and should be reared in the same manner as^ 

 young thrushes. The starling is both docile and 

 quick, and will learn its lesson rapidly, and better 



