STARLING. 169 



although insects are preferred if to be had. In the spring of 

 the year they chiefly subsist on worms ; in the summer, when 

 they have choice and plenty, they eat grasshoppers and their 

 larvas by preference, which they carefully look for in mea- 

 dows ; they also catch many a winged insect, and destroy 

 grubs of beetles, which they find in grounds where cows feed. 

 The Starlings are very useful in destroying vermin ofT sheep, 

 cows, and swine, which they most sociably take from the 

 backs of these animals while perched on them. When the 

 sheep are shorn in June or July, the Starlings have a plen- 

 tiful feast. 



The Starling has a peculiar manner of using its beak, 

 which aids it much in getting at insects among stones, or from 

 between leaves of plants ; what we allude to, is its thrusting 

 its closed beak into crevices, and then opening it suddenly, 

 not only with a jerk, but, as it were, circling its beak round, 

 and thus dividing or overturning whatever obstacle presents 

 itself. 



In the autumn they devour many a mulberry, blackberry, 

 etc. They are also most mischievously destructive among 

 cherry-trees, which they pilfer unscrupulously ; not only eat- 

 ting many and carrying off more to their young, but in 

 destroying them wastefully, and leaving them strewed beneath 

 the trees ; these depredations are not only carried on early in 

 the morning, but in the face of day, and in defiance of 

 interruption. 



When unmolested, Starlings return annually to their favou- 

 rite breeding-places, whether holes in decayed trees, or aper- 

 tures beneath the roof of houses : and are such amusing 

 neighbours, that they are seldom discouraged or driven 

 away. 



In most parts of England these birds are known, but not 

 in all equally abundant : they also appear to change their 

 cpiarters from time to time. 



