SONG-BIRDS igi 



peckers, its beak being very hard and firm. In the same manner it 

 breaks open larger- sized insects (beetles), poppy-heads, and hard- shelled 

 seeds. It remains with us through the winter (resident species), being 

 able to search out insects (as well as their eggs) in their- retreats. 

 (Compare, on the other hand, the swallows.) The young assemble in 

 autumn in great flocks, which rove about the country in vagabond 

 fashion (birds of passage). Many succumb to the severity of the winter. 

 This loss, however, is balanced by the great fecundity of this bird, which 

 during the summer lays two clutches of about ten eggs each. The nest 

 is a roughish structure, and is placed in all sorts of holes. The ground- 

 colour of the eggs is white, and they are dotted over with red spots 

 (see owl). 



The Blue Tit (P. ccervleus) is a regular companion of the great tit at 

 winter feeding-places. It is a pretty little bird, with blue, yellow and 

 green coloured plumage, and during the cold season also takes to roving 

 about in large companies. 



Family 8 : Starlings (Sturnidae). 



The Starling; (Sturnus vulgaris). 



(Length 8 inches). 



The starling is a resident all the year round in England, but on the 

 Continent migrates southwards, occurring only as a winter visitor in 

 South Europe and North Africa. In the bright sunshine its black 

 summer or breeding dress gleams with a green and purple sheen. After 

 the moult the plumage appears to be spotted with white, owing to the 

 black feathers now terminating in white tips. Its song sounds more like 

 a " chatter" than a tune. It is an adept in the art of imitating the 

 voices of other birds and different kinds of noises, such as the clatter of 

 a mill, the creaking of a weather-cock, etc. ; while in captivity it even 

 learns to utter words and short sentences. (What stories or anecdotes 

 do you know in connection with this ?) Grapes and cherries ■ are its 

 favourite food. Gardeners and vine-growers, for this reason, justly 

 persecute the bird. It almost makes good this damage, however, by its 

 active destruction of insects and slugs. It is also fond of picking out 

 ticks (which see) from the backs of sheep. Its long, sturdy legs, with 

 their blunt nails, enable it to run about on the ground rapidly for 

 hours. (Compare with swallow and titmouse.) With its long beak, which 

 it open's as wide as possible, it investigates every crevice and every 

 tuft of grass. In thus widely opening its beak, the tongue, which is 

 possessed of a fine tactile sense, is allowed room to feel about for any 



