HABITS AND COLORATION OF THE STARLING. 283 
hundred years ago, according to Mr. Harvie-Brown, the species 
began to spread on the mainland, and is now common through- 
out Scotland. No reason has been given, and we do not know 
whether the new-comers have arrived from the west, south, or 
east. Iam almost quite certain that I have seen the bird perch on 
cattle in Scotland, but I would like to suggest now that naturalists 
domiciled in that half of our island, or in the western islands, 
place on record the present habits of the bird. Observations 
from the Orkneys or the Hebrides would be peculiarly valuable. 
A superficial study of the copious literature relating to the 
Starling gives one the idea that its numbers have not always 
been constant in England. In 1564 it was apparently too 
common in some parts, for an Act (8 Eliz. c. 15) was then 
passed, ordering that one penny per dozen be paid for ‘‘ Stares’”’ 
heads: these were Starlings, and not any species of Thrush, for 
we learn in the Act of their partiality for dovecots. 
Gilbert White treats the Starling in such a manner in his 
** Letters” that we have reason to suspect it was notin his day a 
common bird near Selborne, but that his knowledge of it was 
gained in other localities. The only mention I can see in going 
through one edition, and in examining the indexes of two or three 
more, isin Letter XI. to Daines Barrington, and this passage read 
in conjunction with the rest of the book, and especially Letters I. 
and II. to Barrington, seems to support the suggestion. Bishop 
Stanley, in his ‘ History of Birds,’ writing (I think from Alderley, 
in Cheshire) towards the middle of last century, remarks that in 
former years the Starling was far more numerous; and the 
ignorance shown by good men like Montagu, Mudie, Knapp, 
and others (who all at one time or another believed the young 
to be a distinct species), also suggests that it was not so evenly 
distributed during the nesting season as it is to-day. As a 
common breeding bird it is but a recent addition to Cornwall 
and Devon. 
Within the past few years the marked increase of the Star- 
ling in Great Britain has led to some notable speculations, 
especially on the part of the late Dr. R. B. Sharpe. After 
accumulating a great deal of material he was forced (reluctantly, 
he confessed) to leave the problem unsolved. Other students 
' were more easily satisfied, and some who were influenced by 
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