THE STARLING 137 
FAMILY STURNIDA. 
HE Starlings are an Old World family of birds linked to the Finches through 
the /cferide or Troupials and Cow-birds of the New World; but, on the other 
hand, showing affinity to the Corvide or Crow-family. They are characterized by 
a long straight slender bill, with the nostrils placed low down, without rictal 
bristles; a very small bastard primary and very long second primary; the tarsus 
is scaled in front, but not behind. 
Starlings when on the ground progress in a purposeless, irregular fashion, 
mostly by walking or running; on the wing their flight is powerful, but peculiar, 
so that, when at a great height, it has a twinkling appearance; when at a lower 
elevation this is explained by the fact that they rapidly flap their somewhat long 
wings and then sail straight forwards. 
These birds are practically omnivorous, always hungry and consequently large 
feeders; they are therefore unsuitable for caged pets, unless considerable attention 
can be paid to them by their owners: in themselves, however, they are cleanly, 
being exceedingly fond of bathing. 
The songs of Starlings are either altogether, or partly, harsh in character; in 
which respect and in their powers of mimicry, they somewhat resemble their allies 
the Crows. Like the latter also they soon become tame and confiding in captivity; 
in which respect they widely differ from the //erzdw which never seem to get the 
least bit tamer after years of confinement in an aviary, and always remain nervous 
in a cage: in one respect, however, in addition to their general outline, the true 
Starlings resemble the so-called ‘“‘ Meadow-Starlings”; they are very gregarious. 
In their nidification the Sturnide differ both from the /cferid@ and Corvide, 
building their nests of all kinds of rubbish, in holes or crevices of trees, banks, 
rocks, walls, or buildings: their eggs are uniform in colouring and usually greenish- 
blue. 
No birds are so easy to capture as Starlings, nets and traps awaken no suspicion 
of danger in their unreflecting brains; they see food, and rush in helter-skelter to 
secure it; so that a small trap will sometimes secure from three to five at one 
fall. 
