THE STARLING. 293 



sfderable time ; then all at once drop into their places ; there are several of these 

 large bodies, but the largest seems to come from the direction of Lucan. After this 

 detachment (the last of the large ones) has located itself, stragglers only appear, and 

 they come in as long as light enough remains for us to see them. It is most curious 

 to observe starlings in this case, though so very wary in others, placing themselves 

 absolutely within reach of persons walking under the trees ; and it is perhaps not 

 less striking, that not one in one hundred of these persons seems to notice them. 

 Great care has been taken to prevent any undue disturbance of the birds in this rest- 

 ing-place, and it is hoped that any person induced by this statement to observe their 

 roosting, will not molest them. The entire silence of the starlings strongly contrasts 

 with the ceaseless noise of a comparatively small number of sparrows, which congre- 

 gate to sleep in some trees near the bear-pit. A number of blackbirds roost in another 

 part, but they are as nothing compared with the starlings. Fieldfares congregate 

 somewhere near the Viceregal Lodge, it is believed, as they may be observed, flying 

 close to the ground in that direction from various sides, while the starlings are soaring 

 on high towards the Zoological Garden. It is probable that the starlings come from 

 a very great distance to their roosting places ; as it would seem to require a very 

 large circuit to supply the enormous number which congregate in the gardens during 

 the early part of this mouth." Mr. Ball has informed me, that since the starlings 

 came in such numbers to the Zoological Garden, the Blackbirds there have congre- 

 gated to roost, and that he has seen about fifty together on one tree. Mr. Smith 

 O'Brien, M. P., has told him of a similar starling-roost near his residence, in the 

 county of Limerick, where the number of birds was so immense as greatly to injure 

 the trees on which they perched. 



It is most entertaining to witness starlings feeding, so very 

 active and lively are all their movements ; not one moment are 

 they still, and well may it be so, for truly they are omnivorous. 



The contents of the stomachs of starlings .often show, that a great deal of life of 

 various kinds is sacrificed to their appetite, and in quantity, as well as variety of 

 food consumed, they exceed all birds that have come under my observation. From my 

 notes a few examples may be selected. Dec. 17, 1834.— A starling was found to 

 contain five perfect and full-grown specimens of Bulimus lubricus, aud a Helix radia- 

 tula ; some minute Coleoptera, especially dung-beetles, and numerous insect larvae ; 

 a blade of grass, a few grains of oats, and fragments of gravel. 



March 12, 1835. — On opening a starling, thirteen specimens of Bulimus lubricus 

 and two Helices, together with perfect Coleoptera of different species, aud numerous 

 larva?, were observed. 



Dec. 29, 1835. — The stomach of a starling was filled with insects of various kinds, 

 or indeed families, but chiefly Coleoptera, some grain, and the following shells : — 

 twelve perfect adult specimens of Helix radiatula, a H. eel/aria, aud a H. hispida, 

 (both whole aud of ordinary size) ; with twelve examples of Bulimus lubricus nearly 

 all adult and perfect. 



Nov. 25, 1S36. — Nine starlings examined, contained only the remains of insect 



