Locality. 
Nest, &c. 
Food. 
92 OMNIVORI. STURNUS. Common Srartine. 
season of pairing. Species of this genus are found in all 
quarters of the globe, but only one inhabits Europe. 
‘Common Starling.—Sturnus vulgaris, (Linn.) 
PLATE 86. Fig. 1. 
Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 290. 1.—Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 801.—Lath. 
Ind. Ornith. v. 1. p. 321. 1.—Raii, Syn. p. 67. A. 1.—Will. p. 144. t. 37. 
—Briss. 2. p. 439. 1.—Id. 8vo. 1. p. 289. 
Sturnus varius, Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. v. 1. p. 208. 
L’Etourneau, Buff. Ois. v. 3. p. 176. t. 15.—Jd. Pl. Enl. 75. 
L’Etourneau vulgaire, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. v. 1. p. 132. 
L’Etourneau Commun, Cuiver, Reg. Anim. }. p. 395. 
Gemeiner Star. Bechst. Naturg. Deut. v. 3. p. 816.—Frisch. Vog. t. 217. 
Stare or Starling, Br. Zool. 1. No.F104. t. 46.—Arct. Zool. 2. p. 331. A.— 
Lewin’s Br. Birds, 2. t. 56.—Lath. Syn. 3. p. 2.—Id. Supp. p. 137.— Will. 
(Ang.) p. 196. t. 37.—Mont. Ornith. Dict.—Pult. Cat. Dorset. p. 8.—Be- 
wick’s Br. Birds, vy. 1. p. 88.—Id. App. p. 14. young.—Low’s Fau. Or-. 
cad. p. 54. 
The Starling is widely dispersed through Great Britain, 
occurring as numerously in the Orkney and Shetland Isles as 
in the southern parts of the kingdom. 
In the autumnal and hyemal months, these birds gather in 
immense flocks, and are particularly abundant in the fenny 
parts of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, where they roost 
among the reeds. Before they retire to rest, they perform 
various manceuvres in the air, the whole frequently describ- 
ing rapid revolutions round a common centre. 
This peculiar flight will sometimes continue for nearly half 
an hour, before they become finally settled for the night. 
Upon the approach of spring they pair, and spread them- 
selves over the country.—They build in the holes of trees, or 
in ruimous buildings, making an artless nest of dry grass or 
hay, on which four or five eggs, of a bluish-green colour, are 
deposited.— Their food principally consists of worms and 
other insects ; but they also eat grain and various seeds. Ac- 
cording to Mr Low, they feed in the Orkney Islands, du- 
ring the severity of winter, upon the sea-louse (Oniscus ma- 
