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siderable numbers, they do not, as a rule, roost about here'; the greater part of them, collecting 

 in large flocks about sunset, fly off for some more favoured locality. The irons connecting the 

 pinnacles of the church tower are a very favourite gathering-place ; and shortly before sunset 

 these irons are generally crowded with Starlings, who, after about half an hour's chatter, start all 

 at once for their roosting-place. In Guernsey, where they were unusually plentiful when I was 

 there in November 1872, I have observed the same thing, large flocks of Starlings flying off in 

 the evening in the direction of the French coast and of Jersey, in one of which places, I suppose, 

 they went to roost, as I have watched them fly out to sea as far as I could follow them with my 

 glass, and they showed no intention of returning." In Sussex, Surrey, and Kent I have observed 

 it numerous at all seasons of the year. It is common in the eastern counties ; and in Scotland, 

 though formerly it was rare on the mainland, it is now tolerably common, both there and on the 

 islands, where from time immemorial it appears to have been very generally distributed. Dunn 

 states that it is numerous in Orkney and Shetland, and frequently builds in the walls of the 

 houses, so low that the nest may be easily reached with the hand. In Ireland it is common. 

 Professor Reinhardt states (Ibis, 1861, p. 7) that a single specimen was sent from Greenland by 

 Holboll to Copenhagen in 1851, which appears to be the only instance on record of its having 

 been met with in that country ; nor do I find any notice of its having occurred in Iceland. On 

 the Faeroes it is, however, common and resident, being, according to Captain Feilden, spread 

 throughout all the islands. I was at first inclined to consider the Fseroese Starling distinct 

 from our bird, and differing from it in having a much larger and broader bill ; but a series of 

 specimens from various localities proves to me that this character cannot be depended on, but, 

 as a rule, examples from the Fseroe Islands have the beak very large, and especially broad, but 

 do not in any other respects differ from specimens from other parts of Europe. 



In Scandinavia it is common, and is stated by Mr. R. Collett to be resident in Norway. 

 This gentleman writes that it is very "abundant in the coast-region of Nordland — on Tjotto, for 

 instance, where large numbers were observed in July 1871 ; it is found less abundantly in 

 Lofoten, and is, as a rule, very rare north of those islands. At Tromso it has been repeatedly 

 observed in the spring and autumn; and stray individuals have also been met with in East 

 Finmark. In several localities along the coast, single individuals and small flocks have been 

 found wintering as far north as Vsero, in Lofoten; they mostly frequent the sea-shore when in 

 search of food. Each of the last winters, large numbers were observed round Stavanger, on 

 Jsederen, and ranging northward to the coast of Romsdal; in 1872-73 they were also common 

 in the neighbourhood of Christiania." In Sweden it does not appear to range so far north as in 

 Norway, not being met with, according to Nilsson, above Northern Angermanland and Umea, in 

 G4° N. lat. It is there a migrant, arriving early in the spring. In Finland, Professor Malmgren 

 informs me, it is spread throughout Southern and Western Finland, tolerably far inland, but in 

 the northern and north-eastern portions of the country it does not occur. Its range extends 

 northward on the western coast to Uleaborg (65° N. lat.); and in the interior, in Southern Oster- 

 botten and Tavastland, it does not range higher than 63^° N. lat. It occurs throughout Russia, 

 being found, though rare, my collector writes me, in the Archangel Government. Mr. Sabanaeff 

 informs me that it is " generally distributed throughout Central Russia, and very common in 

 the south-eastern portion of the Perm Government and throughout the Ural on both slopes. 



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