32 



RED- WINGED STARLING 



to breed; and about the last week in April or first in May begin 

 to construct their nest. The place chosen for this is generally 

 within the precincts of a marsh or swamp, meadow or other like 

 watery situation. The spot usually a thicket of alder bushes, at 

 the height of six or seven feet from the ground; sometimes in a 

 detached bush in a meadow of high grass; often in a tussock of 

 rushes or coarse rank grass ; and not unfrequently in the ground. 

 In all of which situations I have repeatedly found them. When 

 in a bush they are generally composed outwardly of wet rushes 

 picked from the swamp, and long tough grass in large quantity, 

 and well lined with very fine bent. The rushes, forming the ex- 

 terior, are generally extended to several of the adjoining twigs, 

 round which they are repeatedly and securely twisted; a precau- 

 tion absolutely necessary for its preservation, on account of the 

 flexible nature of the bushes in which it is placed. The same cau- 

 tion is observed when a tussock is chosen, by fastening the tops to- 

 gether, and intertwining the materials of which the nest is formed 

 with the stalks of rushes around. When placed in 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 particu- 

 larly 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 



