]6S STURNID.E. 



fares, and plovers. They are always moving about, and show 

 restlessness in a great degree : they are never seen idle. In 

 their movements they are quick and nimble, and very peculiar 

 in their actions, and when strutting about they seem to limp, 

 moving their head and shoulders from side to side with every 

 succeeding step. Their flight is quick and hurried, and per- 

 formed at no great elevation, unless a lengthened flight or 

 migration is intended, in which case they mount higher in the 

 air. The Starling is very fond of bathing, and cannot exist 

 long without water, wherefore they appear to prefer the vicinity 

 of lakes and rivers, especially where thick rushes abound. It 

 is very amusing to watch a bed of rushes from some hidden 

 spot, to see the Starlings arrive at sunset in large flocks from 

 different quarters, and congregate for their night's rest. As 

 soon as they have alighted they begin to pipe, sing, and 

 chatter, until one after another becomes quiet and sinks to 

 rest. At daybreak the chattering recommences, until the 

 sun is just rising, when they all on a sudden fly up into the 

 air, but return again and again, until they at last divide into 

 flocks destined for different places. 



The call-note of the Starling is very much like the first 

 syllable of its name, star, or stoar ! also spatt, spatt ! Its 

 song is composed of so many variations that it becomes im- 

 possible to describe, but the long-drawn whoo is it ! and 

 tsee ! are predominant, besides the chirping and chattering, 

 which altogether produce a concert of no trifling kind, and 

 when heard at a little distance, the nearest description that 

 can be given of it is the bubbling of some spring, or the 

 noise of a waterfall of small dimensions. 



The males and females both sing, but the latter least. 

 When a young Starling has been caged for some little time, 

 he may be taught singing, and even speaking, Avith less trou- 

 ble than any other bird. 



The food of the Starling varies with the season of the year, 



