RED-WINGED STARLING. 15 



only join those of their own species, but also birds of a diiferent kind ; 

 and are frequently seen in company with Red-wings (a species of 

 Thrush), Fieldfares, and even with Crows, Jackdaws and Pigeons. 

 Their principal food consists of worms, snails and caterpillars ; they 

 likewise eat various kinds of grain, seeds and berries." He adds, that 

 " in a confined state they are very docile, and may easily be taught to 

 repeat short phrases, or whistle tunes with great exactness." 



The Red-winged Starling, fig. 1, is nine inches long, and fourteen 

 inches in extent ; the general color is a glossy black, with the exception 

 of the whole lesser wing coverts, the first or lower row of which is of a 

 reddish cream color, the rest a rich and splendid scarlet ; legs and bill 

 glossy brownish black ; irides hazel ; bill cylindrical above, compressed 

 at the sides, straight, running considerably up the forehead, where it is 

 prominent, rounding and flattish towards the tip, though sharp pointed ; 

 tongue nearly as long as the bill, tapering and lacerated at the end ; tail 

 rounded, the two middle feathers also somewhat shorter than those imme- 

 diately adjoining. 



The female, fig. 2, is seven inches and a quarter in length, and twelve 

 inches in extent ; chin a pale reddish cream ; from the nostril over the 

 eye, and from the lower mandible run two stripes of the same, speckled 

 with black ; from the posterior angle of the eye backwards, a streak of 

 brownish black covers the auriculars ; throat, and whole lower parts, 

 thickly streaked with black and white, the latter inclining to cream on 

 the breast ; whole plumage above black, each feather bordered with pale 

 brown, white or bay, giving the bird a very mottled appearance ; lesser 

 coverts the same ; bill and legs as in the male. 



The young birds at first greatly resemble the female ; but have the 

 plumage more broadly skirted with brown. The red early shows itself 

 on the lesser wing-coverts of the males, at first pale, inclining to orange, 

 and partially disposed. The brown continues to skirt the black plumage 

 for a year or two, so that it is rare to find an old male altogether desti- 

 tute of some remains of it ; but the red is generally complete in breadth 

 and 'brilliancy by the succeeding spring. The females are entirely 

 destitute of that ornament. 



The flesh of these birds is but little esteemed, being in general black, 

 dry and tough. Strings of them are, however, frequently seen exposed 

 for sale in our markets. 



