408 



North of 57° N. lat., on the eastern slope, it is rare, and does not occur north of the Pavdinska 

 Dacha, nor is it found on the Imska." In the countries bordering the Baltic on the south side, 

 and throughout Northern Germany, it is common during the summer season, and to some extent 

 resident, as many remain over the winter, whereas a considerable portion migrate southward 

 during the cold season. It is common in Denmark during the summer ; and a few remain there 

 over the winter. In Northern France, Holland, and Belgium it is very abundant, and breeds ; 

 but in Southern France it is chiefly found during migration, when numbers appear in Provence, 

 and some few remain over winter. It occurs in Portugal during the winter, and is also common 

 in Spain at that season of the year ; but the various writers on the ornithology of that country 

 agree in stating that it does not remain there to breed. Mr. Howard Saunders says that it 

 arrives in September and leaves again in the spring. In Italy it is numerous in the district of 

 Modena, where it arrives in March ; and in Sicily it is very numerous on the spring and autumn 

 migrations and during the winter ; but Doderlein doubts the assertions of any remaining to breed 

 there, and believes the statement arises from confusion with S. unicolor. The same holds good 

 of the island of Ustica, which he has lately visited. According to Count Salvadori (J. f. 0. 1865, 

 p. 275), " Cara records it as common in Sardinia, and says that they arrive in large numbers early 

 in August and leave in spring. From this it appears to stay only during the winter in Sardinia, 

 but I think that some also breed there, as I have seen some very young birds in the Museum of 

 Cagliari. I must mention that from January to April I have not observed even one bird of that 

 species. I was very much surprised at not having met with flocks of these birds in March or April 

 during migration, as is the case in Sardinia." 



Mr. C. A. Wright states (Ibis, 1864, p. 56) that it is common in Malta in September and 

 October, and remains there the winter; and Lord Lilford writes (Ibis, 1860, p. 136) that it visits 

 Corfu and Epirus in October, and remains till about the middle of March. He observed immense 

 flocks near Port Platea, in Acarnania, in January 1858. The late Captain P. Sperling, in his 

 notes on the ornithology of the Mediterranean, writes (Ibis, 1864, p. 276) as follows : — " Enormous 

 flocks of these birds frequent Greece during the winter. I never saw them anywhere but in the 

 salt marshes, while during the summer I noticed none at all ; I am therefore led to believe that 

 they migrate more or less. I saw a pretty sight once at Corfu, occasioned by a small Hawk 

 (probably a cock Sparrow-Hawk *) capturing a Starling out of a large flock of about two hundred. 

 My attention was first drawn to it by noticing them scattering and condensing in a peculiar 

 manner, when suddenly down came the fierce little bird on them. The Starlings closed together 

 till they assumed the form of a black ball, and I believe the whole flock could have been covered 

 by a sheet ; the Hawk missed his quarry, and rose again. On this the flock spread out, and tried 

 hard to reach a clump of olive-trees ; but their active assailant was too much for them, and after 

 several swoops he trussed one and skimmed triumphantly down with it." Both von der Mtihle 

 and Lindermayer record it as common in Greece during the winter, and vast swarms roost amongst 

 the reeds in the large swamps. Sturnus unicolor has not been observed by either of these two 

 naturalists. 



In Southern Germany the Starling is, as in most parts of Europe, common ; according to 

 Dr. A. Fritsch, it breeds but rarely in Bohemia, though as early as July they collect in vast flocks 



* Or more probably a Merlin. — H. E. D. 



