/ 
It builds a loofe neft compofed of dry grafs, and lays five 
or fix light blue eggs ; the neft is ufually placed under the 
roofs of extenfive buildings, fometimes in holes in ruined 
walls, and lefs frequently in hollow trees. Its flight is regu- 
lar, in the winter feafon it migrates from the more northern 
parts of Europe, but generally retires on the break-up of the 
froft ; when in flock thefe birds fly in circles, ftill continuing 
to make progreflive advancement. 
Except in the breeding feafon, it ufually roofts in marlhes, 
before fitting down for the night, the whole body fly round 
the fpot for a confiderable time, and they all alight in an 
inftant, after which for a Ihort time they continue to make a 
chattering noife, which alfo ceafes 'very fuddenly, and no 
more is heard of them unlefs difturbed ; to guard againft fur- 
prife one is ufually placed on an eminence to give alarm, 
which it does by a particular note, on hearing of which, the 
whole flock immediately take wing and but feldom return for 
fome days to the place where they have been roufed. 
Provincial names, Stare, Chepfter, and Chep-Starling. 
Our figure was executed for the late William Curtis. 
