RED-WINGED STARLING. 2 $ 



found them. When in a bush, they are generally com- 

 posed outwardly of wet rashes, picked from the swamp, 

 and long tough grass in large quantity, and well lined with 

 very fine bent. The rushes, forming the exterior, are generally 

 extended to several of the adjoining twigs, round which they 

 are repeatedly and securely twisted ; a precaution absolutely 

 necessary for its preservation, on account of the flexible nature 

 of the bushes in which it is placed. The same caution is 

 observed when a tussock is chosen, by fastening the tops 

 together, and intertwining the materials of which the nest is 

 formed with the stalks of rushes around. When placed on 

 the ground, less care and fewer materials being necessary, the 

 nest is much simpler and slighter than before. The female 

 lays five eggs, of a very pale light blue, marked with faint 

 tinges of light purple, and long straggling lines and dashes 

 of black. It is not uncommon to find several nests in the 

 same thicket, within a few feet of each other. 



During the time the female is sitting, and still more parti- 

 cularly after the young are hatched, the male, like most other 

 birds that build in low situations, exhibits the most violent 

 symptoms of apprehension and alarm on the approach of any 

 person to its near neighbourhood. Like the lapwing of 

 Europe, he flies to meet the intruder, hovers at a short height 

 over-head, uttering loud notes of distress ; and, while in this 

 situation, displays to great advantage the rich glowing scarlet 

 of his wings, heightened by the jetty black of his general 

 plumage. As the danger increases, his cries become more 

 shrill and incessant, and his motions rapid and restless ; the 

 whole meadow is alarmed, and a collected crowd of his fellows 

 hover around, and mingle their notes of alarm and agitation 

 with his. When the young are taken away, or destroyed, he 

 continues for several days near the place, restless and dejected, 

 and generally recommences building soon after, in the same 

 meadow. Towards the beginning or middle of August, the 

 young birds begin to fly in flocks, and at that age nearly 

 resemble the female, with the exception of some reddish or 



