i 9 6 O^S^ClTHOLOgt. Book II. 



Chap. XIX. 

 Of the Starling, and *BirA$ «kin to it. 



$. I. 



A Stare or Starling, Sturnus. 



T 



* He Cock weighed three ounces and an half, the Hen three. From Bill to 

 Claws it was nine inches long, to Tail end eight and three quarters. Its 

 breadth was fixteen inches. It is of the bignefs and (hape of a common Black: 

 bird. Its Bill from the tip to the angles of the mouth an inch and a quarter long, in 

 the Cock of a pale yellow, in the Hen dusky, broader and more deprefled than in 

 * This we Thru[hes or Blackbirds, by which * mark efpecially it differs from them. The upper 

 make the cha- Mandible is equal to the nether : The Tongue is hard, horny, and cloven : The hi- 

 "oteof this dex of the Eyes of a hazel colour, whiter on the upper part. It hath the ni&ating 

 kind. membrane, which I believe few birds want. The Legs and Feet are yellowifh, [ra- 



ther of a fleih colour : ] The Claws blackifh. The outer an4 inner fore-toe are equal 

 to each other, and the outer joyned to the middle toe as far as the firft articulation. 

 The Legs feathered down to the Knees. 



The tips of the feathers on the Neck and Back are yellow : The feathers under the 

 Tail cinereous, elfe they are black all the body over, with a certain blue or purple 

 glofs, varying as it is varioufly expofed to the light. In the Hen the tips of the fea- 

 thers on the Breaft and Belly, to the very Throat, are white. In the Cock the 

 Back participates more of purple, the Rump of green j only the lower Belly is more 

 fpotted. 



All the quil-feathers are dusky j but the edges of the third, and fubfequent to the 

 tenth, and from the fifteenth again to the laft are more dark. The covert-feathers 

 of the Wings glitter, and the tips of the lefler coverts are yellow. The feathers co- 

 vering the underfide of the Wings are dusky, having pale-yellow edges. 



The Tail is three inches long, made up of twelve dusky feathers with pale yellow 

 edges : It lays four or five Eggs lightly tinctured with a greenifli blue. 



The blind Guts as in the reft of this kind are very (hort and (mail, nearer to the 

 Fundament than in others. The mufcle of the Gizzard not very thick : The Guts 

 thirteen inches long. It feeds upon Beetles, Worms, and other Infects. It hath a 

 Gall-bladder. 



Stares are gregarious birds, living and flying together in great flocks. They com- 

 pany alio with Redwings and Fieldfares ^ yet do they not fly away with them, but 

 abide with us all Summer, breeding in the holes of Towers, Houfes, Trees,&c. 



This kind fometimes varies in colour. For we have feen in Wales two white Star- 

 lings 5 one with a black Head, and all the reft of the body white at Ahrdaren, a little 

 Village in Camarvanfl.ire. Stares ave not eaten in England byreafon of the bitternefs of 

 their flefh : The Italians, and other Outlandiih people are not fofqueamilh, but they 

 can away with them, and make a di(h of them for all that. It is a notable bird at 

 imitating mans voice, and (peaking articulately. 



§. 11. 



* Bontim his Indian Stare. 



I 



T refembles our Country Stare, in the Sea-green and dark blue feathers, fpotted 

 L with cinereous fpots j but it hath a yellow Creft on the Neck, and its Head is fet 

 with black foft feathers, that feeling of it you would think you touched Velvet. It 

 imitates mans voice much more accurately than a Parrot, fothat oftentimes it is trou^ 

 blefome with its pratling. 



§.in. 



