494 



STERNA. 



neck are long, narrow, and pointed ; the breast, lower part of the back, 

 coverts of the wings, and rump, are black, shaded with dark green ; the 

 whole plumage, throat excepted, elegantly marked with small spots, 

 white on the breast, and yellowish brown on the head and back ; the 

 larger quill-feathers are dusky on the inner webs, and, except the outer 

 one, black on their exterior webs ; the other quills are of a dark ash • 

 colour, bordered with green, and the whole edged with reddish brown ; 

 the tailis short, composed of twelve feathers, much like those of the 

 wing ; legs reddish brown. 



This is a plentiful species ; it is found in almost every part of the 

 old continent ; many stay with us the whole year ; but the vast flocks 

 that are seen in severe winters, probably migrate to this country in 

 search of food, and return northward in the spring. We have observed 

 continued flights of these birds going westward into Devonshire and 

 Cornwall, in hard weather, and returning eastward as soon as the frost 

 breaks up. Their food is chiefly insects, but in defect of these they 

 will eat grain. Great numbers are frequently taken in winter in our 

 pigeon-houses, where they roost for the sake of warmth ; but we be- 

 lieve they rarely, if ever, suck the eggs of that bird, which has been 

 attributed to them. It will, indeed, sometimes build in such places, but 

 more frequently in the hole of a tree, and sometimes in an old building. 

 The nest is made of dry grass, on which it lays four or five light-blue 

 eggs, about one dram and three-quarters in weight. The natural notes 

 of this bird are a shrill whistle and a chattering noise ; but in confine- 

 ment, where it becomes very docile, it is taught to imitate the human 

 voice, and to whistle tunes. 



The flight of the Starling is not undulated, but smooth and even, 

 and it walks or runs upon the ground like the wagtails and the larks, 

 and is rarely observed to hop like the thrush. 



*" In the autumnal and hyemal months," says Selby, "these birds 

 gather in immense flocks, and are particularly abundant in the fenny 

 parts of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, where they roost among 

 the reeds. Before they retire to rest, they perform various manoeuvres 

 in the air, the whole frequently describing rapid revolutions round a 

 common centre. This peculiar flight will sometimes continue for nearly 

 half an hour, before they become finally settled for the night. Upon 

 the approach of spring they pair, and spread themselves over the 

 whole country." * 



STERNA (Linn^us.) — *Tern, a genus thus characterised. Bill as 

 long, or longer than the head, almost straight, compressed, fringed, 

 cutting and pointed ; the mandibles of equal length, the upper slightly 

 inclined towards the point ; nostrils towards the middle of the bill, slit 



