282 RED-WINGED STARLING. 
The Red-winged Starlings, though generally migratory in the states 
north of Maryland, are foun’ duriag winter in immense flocks, some- 
times. associated with the Purple Grakles, and often by themselves, 
along the whole lower pa ts of Virginia, both Carolinas, Georgia, and 
Louisiana, particularly near the sea-coast, and in the vicinity of large 
rice and corn fields. In the months of January and February, while 
passing through the former of these countries, 1 was frequently enter- 
tained with the aerial evolutions of ‘these great bodies of Starlings. 
Sometimes they appeared driving about like an enormous black cloud 
carried before the wind, varying its shape every moment; sometimes 
suddenly rising from the fields around me with a noise like thunder; 
while the glittering of innumerable wings of the brightest vermilion 
amid the black cloud they formed, produced on these occasions a very © 
striking and splendid effect. Then, descending like a torrent, and 
coyering the branches of some detached grove, or clump of trees, the 
whole congregated multitude commenced one general concert or 
chorus, that I have plainly distinguished at the distance of more than 
two miles, and, when listened to at the intermediate space of about a 
quarter of a mile, with a slight breeze of wind to swell and soften the 
flow of its cadences, was to me grand, and even sublime. The whole 
season of winter, that, with most birds, is passed in struggling to sustain 
life in silent melancholy, is, with the Red-Wings, one continued carni- 
val. The profuse gleanings of the old rice, corn, and buckwheat 
fields, supply them with abundant food, at once ready and nutritious ; 
and the intermediate time is spent either in aerial manceuvres, or. in 
grand vocal performances, as if’ solicitous to supply the absence of all 
the tuneful summer tribes, and to cheer the dejected face of nature 
with their whole combined powers of harmony. 
About the 20th of March, or- earlier, ifthe, season be open, they 
begin to enter Pennsylvania in numerous, though small parties. Thése 
migrating flocks are usually observed from daybreak to eight or nine 
in the morning, passing to the north, chattering to each other as they 
fly along; and, in spite of all our antipathy, their well-known notes 
and appearance, after the long and dreary solitude of winter, inspire 
cheerful and pleasing ideas of returning spring, warmth, and verdure. 
Selecting their old haunts, every meadow is soon enlivened by their 
presence. They continue in small parties to frequent the low borders 
of creeks, swamps, and ponds, till about the middle of April, when they 
Separate in'pairs to breed; and, about the last week in April, or first 
in May, begin to construct their nest. The place chosen for this is 
generally within the precincts of a marsh or swamp, meadow, or other 
hike watery situation, —the spot, usually a thicket of alder bushes, at 
the height. of six or seven feet from the ground; sometimes in a de- 
tached bush, in a meadow of high grass; often in a tussock of rushes, 
or coarse, rank grass; and not unfrequently on the ground; in all of 
which situations I-have repeatedly found them. When in a bush, they 
are generally composed outwardly of wet rushes, picked: from the 
swamp, and long, tough: grass, in large quantity, and well lined with 
very fine bent. The rushes, forming the exterior, are generally ex- 
tended to several of the adjoining twigs, round which they are repeat- 
edly and securely twisted —a precaution absolutely necessary for its 
preservaty n, on account of the flexible nature of the bushes in which 
