RED- WINGED STARLING. 



33 



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 excep- 

 tion of some reddish or orange, that marks the shoulders of the 

 males, and which increases in space and brilliancy as winter ap- 

 proaches. It has been frequently remarked that at this time the 

 young birds chiefly associate by themselves, there being sometimes 

 not more than two or three old males observed in a flock of many 

 thousands. These, from the superior blackness and rich red of 

 their plumage, are very conspicuous. 



Before the beginning of September these flocks have become 

 numerous and formidable, and the young ears of maize, or Indian 

 corn, being then in their soft, succulent, milky state, present a 

 temptation that cannot be resisted. Reinforced by numerous and 

 daily flocks from all parts of the interior, they pour down on the 

 low countries in prodigious multitudes. Here they are seen, like 

 vast clouds wheeling and driving over the meadows and devoted 

 corn fields, darkening the air with their numbers. Then com- 

 mences the work of destruction on the corn, the husks of which, 

 tho composed of numerous envelopements of closely Avrapt leaves, 

 are soon completely or partially torn off*; while from all quarters 

 myriads continue to pour down like a tempest, blackening half 

 an acre at a time ; and, if not disturbed, repeat their depredations 

 till little remains but the cob and the shrivelled skins of the grain, 

 what little is left of the tender ear being exposed to the rains and 

 weather is generally much injured. All the attacks and havock 

 made at this time among them with the gun, and by the Hawks, 

 several species of which are their constant attendants, has little ef- 

 fect on the remainder. When the Hawks make a sweep among 



VOL. IV. I 



