STAELING. 



STUKNUS VULGARIS, Linn. 



Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. S. N. i. p. 290 (1766); Naum. ii. 



p. 187 ; Heivitson, i. p. 216 ; Yair. ed. 4, ii. p. 228 ; 



Dresser, iv. p. 405. 

 Sturnus guttatus, Macg. i. p. 595. 



UEtourneau vulgaire, French ; Staar, German ; Estornino, 

 Spanish. 



This deservedly favourite bird is so common in almost 

 all parts of our country and many of our towns, and 

 affords such constant opportimities for the observation 

 of its ways and habits, that it would be superfluous to 

 recapitulate details concerning them to those of my 

 readers who keep their eyes open. I will only say that 

 personally I love this bird beyond most, and consider 

 him as a true friend to man from the enormous amount 

 of noxious insects that he devours in all stages of their 

 existence — aerial, arboreal, terrestrial, and subterranean. 

 The only accusations that can be urged against the 

 Starling with truth are those of a certain amount of 

 fruit-pilfering and the destruction of thatching, and 

 these delinquencies are most amply compensated by the 



