The Starling’s Argument. 149 
round, the starlings perch before they come to the 
_ roof, as if to reconnoitre and to exchange pourparlers 
with their friends already on the roof; for if ever 
birds talk together starlings do. Many birds utter 
the same notes over and over again; others sit on a 
branch and sing the same song, as the thrush ; but 
the starling has a whole syllabary of his own, every 
note of which evidently has its meaning, and can be 
varied and accented at pleasure. 
His whistle ranges from a shrill, piercing treble to 
a low, hollow bass ; he runs a complete gamut, with 
‘shakes,’ trills, tremulous vibrations, every possible 
variation. He intersperses a peculiar clucking sound, 
which seems to come from the depths of his breast, 
fluttering his wings all the while against his sides as 
he stands bolt upright on the edge of the chimney. 
Other birds seem to sing for the pure pleasure of 
singing, shedding their notes broadcast, or at most 
they are meant for a mate hidden in the bush. The 
starling addresses himself direct to his fellows : I think 
I may say he never sings when alone, without a com- 
panion in sight. He literally speaks to his fellows. 
I am persuaded you may almost follow the dialogue 
and guess the tenor of the discourse. . 
A starling is on the chimney-top ; yonder on the 
ash tree are four or five of his acquaintance. Sud- 
denly he begins to pour forth a flood of eloquence— 
facing them as he speaks: Will they come with him 
down to the field where the cows are grazing? There 
