
( 54 ) 
ORDER Ill PASSERINE. 
Bodies from the fize of a thrufh to that of the golden-crefted wren: fprightly 
and much in motion: their nefts formed with great art: they pair, and live on 
berries, feeds, and infects: their ufual pace hopping, that of a few running: 
fhort fliers, except on their migrations only: all have three toes before, and. 
one behind. 
GENUS Io $/TA REx 
Bixt, ftraight, flattifh. 
Nosraits, guarded above by a rim. 
Toncue, hard and cloven. 
Toes, the middle one joined to the outermoft as far as the firft joint. 
SePECTES £ STA RLIN G. 
Pl. 56. 
Sturnus vulgaris. Lin. Sy. I. p.. 290. 
L’Etourneau. Brif. Orn. Il. p. 439.. 
This bird meafures eight inches and three quarters in length, and fourteen 
inches in breadth. The bill is yellow: the whole plumage black, gloffed with 
blue, purple, and copper-colour, in different reflections of light; and each fea- 
ther marked at the end witha pale yellow fpot: the lefs wing coverts are 
edged with yellow, and flightly gloffed' with green: the quill feathers and tail. 
dufky; the former edged with yellow on the outer fide, the latter with dirty 
white: legs reddifh brown. ‘The female is much the fame in colour, though 
rather lefs brilliant, and fomewhat fmaller in fize. The young bird is of a 
dufky brown, till the firft moult; and the bill does not become yellow till the 
bird is at full age. 
The ftarling builds in hollow trees, decayed ruins, old walls, and fometimes 
in pigeon houfes, laying five or fix eggs: fee the upper figure in plate XIII. 
It is in general fufficiently plentiful in England, and is fometimes feen in vatt 
flocks, along with the redwing and fieldfare, in the winter feafon. 
