THE STARLING—A BIRD THAT IS ON TRIAL 313 
My own opinion is that for the present the Starling is on 
trial, and the evidence submitted is not sufficient either to 
condemn it or to indorse it. If it persistently harries and 
drives from their haunts any important contingent of our 
native insectivorous birds, then the Starling will have to be 
suppressed by shooting. 
Tue Rep-WincGep Buiackeirp! is a bird that delights my 
soul. No marsh or cat- 
tail swamp is complete 
without him. No spring 
ever can be perfect 
without his sweet, liq- 
uid gurgle—‘“‘O-ka-leé.”’ 
You hear that flute-like 
call when the sky is 
clear, the warm sun- 
shine is flooding field 
and stream, and you are 
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 
glad that you are alive. 
The jet-black plumage of this bird, with epaulettes of 
scarlet and white, make a brave show among the dull-green 
blades of the cat-tails. As a rule, bird songs translated into 
English do not appeal to me very strongly; but the Red- 
Wing does say “O-ka-leé” to perfection! 
The typical Red-Wing is an eastern bird, but its half- 
dozen subspecies are so well dispersed throughout the United 
States that almost every region possesses one. In New York 
City it lives outdoors all winter, when properly sheltered 
1 Ag-e-lai'us phoe-ni'ci-us. Length, 9 inches. 
