STARE. 3 



Starlings are often mixed in winter with the Redwings and 

 Fieldfares, frequently in large flocks, unaccompanied with other 

 birds; and in such case may be known, from their tumultuous and 

 disorderly mode of flight, different from that of any other bird. 



The chief food consists of insects and worms, and in particular the 

 rose-beetles,* but in failure of these it will eat grain: said also to feed 

 on olives, grapes, and cherries, but prefer the latter ; however, it is 

 probable that they are most fond of animal food, for when kept in 

 cages, they seem pleased with scraps of meat of every kind. 



In a state of nature, the note of this bird is merely a short, shrill 

 whistle, chattering at intervals, but when kept tame it imitates the 

 human speech, and will learn to whistle a tune. 



I have observed this Bird, with all its Varieties, among collections 

 of drawings from India, where it appears to be common, and known 

 by the name of Tiliel, also Tillory. 



In England called Stare, or Starling; in the north, Chepster. 



A.— Sturnus albus, Ind. Orn. i. 322. j3. Bris. ii. 444. A. Id. 8vo. i. 281. Aldr. ii. 636. 



Will. 145. 

 White Stare, Gen. Syn. iii. p. 3. Will. Engl. 196. 



This is wholly white, with a reddish bill, and flesh-coloured legs; 

 two of these were in the Leverian Museum. 



B. — Sturnus leucomelas, Bris. ii. 444. B. Id. 8vo. i. 281. 

 Sturnus capite atro, reliquo corpore albo, Will. 148. 

 Pied Stare, Gen. Syn. iii. p. 4. Will. Engl. 156. 



In this the head is black, the rest of the plumage white. 

 Found at Aberdaren, a little village in Caernarvonshire. 



* Scarabaeus auratus & nobilis, Lin. 

 B 2 



