RAVENS. 223 



many enemies, of whom the alligator may be considered as one of the most formidable, for being well 

 aware what dainty morsels these fat arid tender birds afford, it is ever on the watch to shake them 

 from their nest among the reeds into the water, or by gliding quietly along in the direction from 

 which it hears the young ones cry, secures at least a part of the brood, before the mother can warn 

 her family of their danger. Like its congeners, the Boat-tail is extremely active ; it climbs among the 

 reeds with great rapidity, combining the boldness of the Crow with the agility of the Starling ■ its flight 

 is undulating, and its song not unpleasing, though without great pretensions to melody. During 

 autumn and winter it associates with manv other birds, amongst which Herons are frequently met with. 



The STARLINGS PROPER (Stumi) are birds of moderate size, compactly built, with short 

 tails, long wings, rather long and broadly conical straight beaks, and high, strong feet ; their plumage 

 is rich, but harsh and very varied in its colouring. Like the rest of the family, they are of social 

 habits, living together in flocks throughout the whole year, and carrying on all the business of life in 

 common. Despite their somewhat clumsy appearance, they are extremely active, both upon the ground 

 and in the air ; their step is quick, but rather waddling ; their flight light and noisy ; and their move- 

 ments in the trees extremely agile. All the members of the group are Iivel} r , restless, busy creatures, 

 which may literally be said never to rest, except during the time they pass in sleep. Their food con- 

 sists of insects, worms, and snails ; occasionally they will eat fruit or the delicate parts of some plants, 

 but never in such quantities as to be troublesome. The nest, which is large and irregular in its con- 

 struction, is generally placed in holes of trees, rocks, or walls ; the eggs are usually from four to seven 

 in number. Few birds are more eminently adapted for domestication, their many talents rendering 

 Starlings universal favourites when caged. 



THE COMMON STARLING. 

 The Common Starling (Sturiuis vulgaris) combines all the many peculiarities of its family, and 

 we have therefore selected it as the most suitable representative of their principal characteristics. The 

 plumage of this bird varies considerably with age or the season of the year ; in the spring the adult 

 male is black, shaded with purple and green, these tints seeming lighter upon the wings and tail on 

 account of the broad grey border by which the feathers are surrounded ; some of those upon the back 

 have greyish-yellow spots at their tips. The eyes are brown, the beak black, and the feet reddish 

 brown. No sooner has the process of moulting been fully accomplished than the appearance of the 

 bird is entirely changed, for all the feathers upon the nape, back, and breast are then tipped with white, 

 and thus give the plumage the effect of being spotted ; the beak also becomes considerably darker. 

 The female resembles the male, but her plumage is even more spotted than that of her mate during 

 the spring months of the year. The young are of a dark brownish grey, the region of the face being 

 lighter than the rest of the body ; the beak is greyish black, and the feet brownish grey. The length 

 of this species is from eight and a half to eight and three-quarter inches, its breadth fourteen to fifteen 

 inches; the wing measures rather more than four, and the tail from two and a half to two and 

 three-quarter inches. 



The Common Starling is met with throughout almost the whole of Europe, principally frequent- 

 ing its more southern portions, and preferring such wooded pastures or plains as are well watered or 

 marshy. During its migrations it very frequently visits Northern Africa, and is an annual winter guest 

 in Egypt and Algiers, but for the most part the flocks do not leave the Continent of Europe, and 

 pass the colder part of the year in flying about the country in company with Ravens, Thrushes, and 

 other similar birds. Few of the feathered tribe are endowed with so joyous and contented a disposi- 



