S T A 
genus*, one of which, or the moon Afterias, Is 
entire; nine are ftellated; and fix are radiated. 
The common Star-Filli, the Afterias Glacialis 
bf LinnfEUS, with five heptagonal rays, and prickly 
angles, is fi-equent in the Britiili feas, where it 
feeds on oyfters, and is fometimes very deftru6live 
to the beds. 
The arborefcent Star-FiHi, or Stella Arboref- 
cens, the Caput Medufae of Linn^us, is a very An- 
gular curiofity. It is defcribed as being upwards 
of a foot In diameter, and having it's mouth in 
the middle. The figure of the trunk is pentan- 
gular; and from the five angles arife as many 
branches, which fubdivide into feveral others, and 
thofe again into other lefler ones, till the laft are 
fcarcely thicker than horfe-hairs, and amount to 
upwards of a thoufand in number. In fwimming, 
this animal fpreads all it's branches, like a net, to 
their full length; and whenever it perceives any 
prey inclofed, draws them in again, and feizes it 
with all the dexterity of a fifherman. 
For a defcription of fome of the moil curious 
Afterias, fee Asterias. 
STAR-GAZER. An Englifh appellation for 
the uranofcopus, a filh frequently caught in the 
Mediterranean feas. It is about nine inches in 
length; and has a large head, of a quadrangular 
figure, rough and bony. The body is roundiili ; 
the upper part is of an afh colour; and the belly 
is white. The fcales are fmall; and the lateral 
lines behind the fin approach each other, and de- 
fcend to the middle caudal fin. The face is flat; 
and the eyes (which look upwards, and from 
whence the fifh derives it's name) are near each 
other, fmall, protuberant, and encircled with 
golden irides. The mouth is pretty large; and 
the chin fomewhat refembles the human. The 
jaws and palate are armed with teeth ; and the 
lower lip is fringed with barbs. The whole face, 
and the covers of the gills, are very rough, being 
befet with warts and prickly tubercles. 
STARLING, OR STARE. A diftlnft genus 
of birds of the order of pafleres : the charaflers of 
which are; that the beak is fubulated, deprefled, 
and obtufe ; that the upper mandible is entire, with 
fpreading margins; that the noftrils are guarded 
above by a prominent rim ; and that the tongue is 
lharp. Linnaeus enumerates five fpecies. 
Starling, Common ; the Sturnus Vulgaris of 
Linnasus. This bird is about the fize of the black- 
bird; the weight of the male being about three 
ounces, that of the female fomewhat lefs. The 
bill, in old birds, is yellow; the whole plumage is 
black, very refplendent, with changeable blue, 
purple, and copper; each feather being marked 
with a pale yellow fpot. The lefier coverts are 
edged with yellow, and flightly gloffed with green ; 
the quill-feathers and tail are duflcy, the former 
edged with yellow in the exterior fide, the laft with 
dirty white ; and the legs are of a reddilh brown 
hue. 
Thefe birds breed In hollow trees, eaves of 
houfes, towers, cliff^s, and high rocks impending 
over the fea. They lay four or five eggs of a pale 
greenifti aftn-colour; they feed on worms and in- 
fers; and it is faid that they will enter pigeon- 
houfes, and fuck the eggs. In the winter feafon 
they affemble in large flocks. Their flefh is ex- 
tremely bitter, and unpalateable; but, from the 
facility with which they are tamed, and even 
taught to fpeak, they prove entertaining domef- 
tics. 
S T A- 
Starling, Inoian, Yellow; tne Oriolus of 
Linnffius. A bird defcribed bv Edwards, and 
brought from Bengal in the Eaft Indies. The 
bill refembles that of the common Starling-; the 
irides are hazel-coloured, encircled with yellow; 
and the pupils are black. The forehead, from 
the bill to the eyes, is of a bright yellow colour; 
and round the eyes the feathers are dufky. The 
top, the hinder part, and the fides of the head un- 
der the eyes, are black. The throat, juft- below 
the bill, is whitifh ; and the breaft is "of a light 
yellow colour ; but the belly, thighs, and coverts, 
are of a deeper yellow ; and the throat and breaft 
have long, black, or dufky fpots, down the fliafts 
of the feathers. The upper fide ©f the neck, the 
back, rump, and coverts on the upper fide of the 
tail, are of a full bright yellow colour; but the 
greater quills of the wings are dufky, with yellow 
edges on their exterior webs ; and all the coverts 
on the upper fides are yellow, with dufky fpots in 
their centres. The middle feathers of the tail are 
dufl<y, with a yellow caft, and yellow tips ; and 
the legs and feet are alfo duflcy. 
Starling, Indian, Black and White ; the 
Sturnus Contra of Linnsus. This fpecies is a 
native of the Eaft Indies, particularly of the pro- 
vince of Bengal. It has a fharp-pointed bill, 
pretty thick at the bafe, a litde incurvated down- 
wards, and of a yellowifh orange colour. The 
forehead, next the bafe of the bill above, is white ; 
wliich colour extends from the bafe of the upper 
chap all round the eyes, forming a white plat 
round the eye, from v/hich a narrow white line 
paflTes from eye to eye round the back part of the 
head ; but the top of the head, the throat, and the 
neck, are black, with a greenifli ' glofs. The 
back, rump, wings above, and tail, are blackifh ; 
the ridge of the wing next the breaft is whitifh ; 
and the exterior edges of the great quills are of a 
lighter brown hue than the other parts. The row 
of covert-feathers next above the quills have white 
tips; and the breaft, belly, thighs, and coverts 
beneath the tail, are white. A brownifti white 
line runs on the fides of the upper part of the 
breaft, forming a ring round the lower parts of 
the neck behind ; and the legs and feet are of a 
reddifh brown colour. 
Starling, Silky. This beautiful bird Is a 
native of China. It is about the fize of the com- 
mon Starling : the bill is of a deep orange colour ; 
the head is of a yellowifh white ; and the body is 
entirely of a fine pale grey colour, of a gloffy and 
filky appearance. The wings are black, with a 
fingle bar of white; the tail is alfo black; and 
the legs are of. a reddilh yellow hue. 
Starling, Red-Winged. This fpecies, which 
Is a native of North America, weighs between 
three and four ounces. It is entirely of a dark 
grey colour, almoft blackifh, except that part of 
the wings next the neck, on which there is a large 
roundifti fpace of red, reaching to the very edges; 
but below there is a broad yellow ftrlpe. The 
hen has a lightifh mixture of grey; and the red 
on her wings Is lefs bright. 
Thefe birds form their nefts among the reeds, 
the tops of which they artfully interweave, and fill 
their nefts under the web, fafe from the water be- 
low and the wet above. They deftroy prodigious 
quantities of corn, in proportion to their fize; but 
they are capable of being tamed, and taught to 
fpeak. 
Starling, Indian; the Sturnus Indicus of Ray 
and 
