54 THE STARLING 



attention. The nest of the Oriole, on the contrary, is suspended 

 between the two forks of a horizontal branch, which intercept the 

 side view of it. The materials employed are the lichen above men- 

 tioned, wool, cobwebs, and feathers, but all of a white hue. When 

 not placed in a fruit tree, it is attached by a kind of cordage to the 

 twigs of a poplar or birch tree, or even to a bunch of mistletoe, 

 hanging in mid-air like the car of a balloon. A cradle thus sedu- 

 lously constructed we should expect to find watched with unusual 

 solicitude. And such is the case ; it is defended most valiantly 

 against the attacks of marauding birds, and so devoted is the mother 

 bird that she has been known to suffer herself to be carried away 

 sitting on her eggs, and to die of starvation. Surely a bird so 

 beautiful and so melodious, so skilful an architect and so tender 

 a nurse, deserves rather to be encouraged than exterminated. 

 Nests have been found in several of our counties, more especially 

 in Kent. The plumage of the female bird differs considerably from 

 that of the male in richness of tint, and the young of both sexes 

 resemble the female. 



FAMILY STURNID^ 

 THE STARLING 



STURNUS VULGARIS 



Plumage black, with brilliant purple and green reflections, the upper feathers 

 tipped with cream-colour ; under tail-coverts edged with white ; beak 

 yellow ; feet flesh-colour, tinged with brown. Female — spotted below 

 as well as above. Young — uniform ash-brown, without spots. Length 

 eight and a half inches ; width fifteen inches. Eggs uniform pale greenish 

 blue. 



The Starling is a citizen of the world. From the North Cape to 

 the Cape of Good Hope, and from Iceland to Kamtschatka, he is 

 almost everywhere at home, and too familiar with the dealings of 

 man to come within a dangerous distance of his arm, though he 

 fuUy avails himself of aU the advantages which human civilization 

 offers, having discovered, long ago, that far more grubs and worms 

 are to be procured on a newly-mown meadow than on the bare hill- 

 side, and that the flavour of May-dukes and Coroons immeasurably 

 excels that of the wild cherries in the wood. That dove-cots, holes 

 in walls, and obsolete water-spouts are convenient resting-places 

 for a nest, appears to be a traditional piece of knowledge, and that 

 where sheep and oxen are kept, there savoury insects abound, is 

 a fact generally known, and improved on accordingly. So, in 

 suburban gardens, where even the Redbreast and Tits are unknown, 

 Starlings are periodical visitors and afford much amusement by 



