2lS cassei.l's book of birds. 



THE BALTIMORE GOLDEN STARLING. 



The Baltimore Golden Starling {Hyphantes Baltimore), a North American species, is the 

 member of this group with which we are most familiar. In the general construction of its body it 

 closely resembles the Yellow Bird last described, but the ridge of the beak is slightly curved ; also the 

 wings are longer and the tail shorter than in that species. The plumage of the male is black upon 

 the head, throat, and upper wing-covers, as are the quills and middle tail-feathers ; the under parts of 

 the body and small wing-covers are bright orange, the back and breast a light scarlet : the exterior 

 tail-feathers are black from the root, but their lower half is bright orange. The large upper wing- 

 covers are tipped with white, and the quills bordered with a white margin ; the eye is orange, the 

 beak and feet light grey. In the young male all the colours are paler : the iris is light brown, and 

 the upper mandible brownish black. The size of this species is about seven and three-quarter inches 

 long, its breadth twelve inches. 



According to Audubon, the Baltimore Bird is met with throughout the whole of North America 

 as far as fifty-five degrees north latitude, being very numerous in some parts, but only visiting others 

 in the course of its migrations. Its favourite haunts are in hilly districts, to which it resorts as soon 

 as spring appears, to discharge the duties attendant on incubation. The nest is suspended from a 

 slender twig, and is most artistically woven, but its construction varies with the climate. In the Southern 

 States the birds prefer the northern side of the tree, and form their little cradle of moss so loosely in- 

 tertwined as to allow the air to penetrate ; while those that inhabit the Northern States prefer such 

 branches as are most exposed to the rays of the sun, and render their home warm and snug by lining 

 it with soft and fine materials. The construction of these remarkable nests is very peculiar ; the 

 builders begin by seeking for all kinds of threads or fibres about the surrounding fields and villages, 

 and frequently do very serious damage by their depredations among the skeins of thread or cotton 

 laid out in the fields to bleach : all the odds and ends of cotton, silk, or thread thus collected are 

 woven into the nest, amongst other materials, with a compactness and dexterity that is truly surprising. 

 The female lays from four to six eggs, of a pale green colour, marked with dark spots or streaks. The 

 young are hatched within a fortnight, and are fully fledged in about three weeks after their birth, from 

 which period they begin to climb in and out of the nest, and hang from the outside after the manner 

 of Woodpeckers ; they then accompany their parents, by whom they are fed and tended for another 

 fortnight, before they are capable of supporting themselves. In the more southern parts of North 

 America these birds frequently produce two broods within the year ; during the spring they subsist 

 principally upon various insects, usually caught upon the wing ; but in summer they prefer fruit of 

 different kinds, and do great damage to the orange and banana trees. This species commences its 

 migrations early in the autumn, flying generally alone, and high in the air, uttering loud cries and 

 hurrying along with great rapidity ; when evening approaches it seeks food and shelter upon a tree, 

 where it passes the night ; it then takes a hasty meal and resumes its onward journey. The move- 

 ments of the Baltimore Bird are regular and graceful ; its flight is direct and continuous ; its step, when 

 upon the ground, easy ; and its adroitness in climbing amongst the branches such as to bear comparison 

 with the activity of the Titmouse. The song is simple, but pleasing. 



We select the CASSICANS (Cassia) as taking rank next in order to the Icteri, being, like them, 

 of slender shape, with long, pointed, conical beaks, long, tapering wings, long and graduated tails, 

 rounded at the extremity, and formed of broad feathers. The feet are strong, the toes large and armed 

 with sharp claws. The plumage is thick, smooth, and glossy, principally black, heightened to greater 

 richness by an intermixture of yellow. In size they resemble our Jackdaw. (See Coloured Plate VI.) 



