STARLING. 13 



migrates in autumn to the Punjaub and North-west India^ Sturnus purpu- 

 rascens occurs, distinguished by its bronze-coloured wings and flanks, and, 

 on an average, longer beak. In Sindh, Cashmere, and Nepal S. indicus is 

 a resident, distinguished by its small size, the wing measuring from 4'25 to 

 4'75 inch (the wing of S. vulgaris measures from 4'85 to 5'3). In all 

 these species the colour occasionally changes from green to purple, 

 according to the position in which the bird is held as regards the light ; 

 they are also probably subject to some slight local variations in colour. 



The Starling is almost as closely associated with man as the Sparrow ; 

 but, unlike that bird, it seems to have a peculiar way of accommodating 

 itself to its surroundings with the greatest ease. Thus we see it almost 

 everywhere and in every variety of scenery. It will share the eaves and 

 the dovecot with the Sparrows and Pigeons ; it will nestle in the hollow 

 trees far away from houses, or make its home just as easily in the sides of 

 the stupendous ocean-cliffs in company with the noisy crowd of sea-birds, 

 or on the limestone rocks further inland. After the breeding-season the 

 Starling becomes even more widely distributed, and from August until the 

 following spring haunts fields and marshes, commons, gardens, and the 

 low-lying shores, as its food-supply may be the most abundant. The 

 Starling is a gregarious bird at all seasons of the year ; but this habit is 

 most marked after the nesting-season, for in spring the scarcity of suitable 

 breeding-places usually disperses them. 



Early in the year, sometimes as soon as the middle of January, the 

 Starling returns almost daily to its old nesting-place, and in a week or so 

 the male begins his unpretentious song. He usually sings when perched 

 on a chimney or on the eaves near his nesting-hole, or on the tree-tops 

 near at hand ; and his song is warbled forth as he ruffles the feathers of 

 his head and throat and shakes and droops his wings, as though full of 

 nervous excitement. Although many of the Starling's notes are harsh, 

 still some of them are very full and pleasing, and heard as they are, at a 

 season when every sign of returning spring is eagerly looked for and 

 welcomed, are certainly one of the most cheerful sounds that greet the ear. 

 Each note is uttered in seeming caprice ; the harsh ones are mingled with 

 the sweet ones with no approach to order. It is indeed a strange song, 

 and cannot be mistaken for that of any other British bird, the Rose- 

 coloured Starling excepted. The Starling's alarm-notes are very harsh 

 and rapidly repeated, resembling somewhat those of the Missel-Thrush. 

 Its call-note is a clear long-drawn piping cry. 



Early in April, sometimes not until the beginning of May, the Starlings 

 have mostly mated and gone to their breeding-holes. Previous to this, 

 however, much quarrelling goes on for the choice of suitable sites ; the 

 strong gain the best located holes, whilst the weak seek quarters elsewhere. 

 The Starling will build its nest almost everywhere, and it needs but slight 



