yORTB AMJSRIVAN BIRDS. 



337 



pointed at the small end; the ground-color Is bluish-white, splashed ail over with, 

 small spots of dark brown thickest at the large end. Thirteen eggs measure re- 

 spectively: 1.19X.88, 1.21X.93, 1.22x.92, 1.25X.91, 1.17X.87, 1.18x.84, 1.17x.85, 1.20X.82, 

 ].17x.80; ave.rage 1.19x.S7. 



[493.] STARLING. Stunms vulgaris Linn. Geog. Dist.— Europe and North- 

 ern Asia; accidental in Greenland. Introduced in New York. 



A specimen of the Starling, taken in Greenland in 1851, entitles it to a place in 

 the avifauna of North America. It has been introduced and apparently well estab- 

 lished in the vicinity, of New York city. Mr. Chapman in his "Birds of Eastern 

 America,' says that the Starling has bred for three successive years in the roof of 

 the Museum of Natural History and at other points in the vicinity. It is a well- 

 known bird in Europe, and of a very general distribution. Its handsome plumage, 

 sprightly, social habits, retentive memory, and pleasing, imitative voice have made 

 it a great favorite as a caged bird. It is said to live in flocks the greater part of the 

 year, selecting for its nest suitable places in holes of trees, eaves of houses, church- 

 steeples, old towers and ruins, in cliffs or in high rocks overhanging the sea, and in 

 wooden boxes put up for its accommodation. The material used for the nest is twigs, 

 straws and fine grasses. The eggs are four to six in number, of a pale greenish-blue 

 or bluish-white. A set of five eggs collected by W. Wells Bladden, May 4, in Stafford- 

 shire, England, is in my cabinet, and exhibits the following sizes: 1.13x.84, l.lOx.82, 

 l.llx.83, 1.18X.79, 1.20X.79. 



494. BOBOLINK. Dolichonyx oryximrus (Linn.) Geog. Dist.— Eastern North 

 America to the Plains, north to Southern Canada, south in winter to the West Ini- 

 dies and South America. Breeds from the Middle States northward. 



A familiar bird in Eastern United States, breeding from the 38th to the 54th 

 parallel. In some parts of the country, in suitable places, it is very abundant. Of 



