19 
Wild Birds, Usefid and Injurious. 
Part III. 
The Starling, Sheepstare, or Shepster exists in astonishing 
numbers in most districts, and is increasing rapidly. The 
glossy plumage of the adult birds is familiar to every one, 
though the full beauty of its colouring is only apparent on 
a close inspection. Less known is the dull greyish brown 
dress of the young, which is entirely devoid of the metallic 
appearance so characteristic of the old birds. A flock of 
starlings in a grass field, feeding with restless activity, always 
conveys the impression of vigour and intelligence, and it is 
pleasant to watch the birds, for they are extremely useful to 
the farmer. An examination of the food they contain reveals 
the presence of wire-worms, leatherjackets, surface caterpillars, 
chafers and their grubs, many beetles, aphides, flies and their 
larvae, with earthworms, snails, and earwigs. They may often 
be seen gliding through the air in j)ursuit of insects on the 
wing, and at times cling to the bark of trees after the manner 
of woodpeckers. Their habit of perching on the backs of 
sheep, in search of ticks, is well known, though some 
shepherds think that their droppings attract the parent flies 
of the maggots which cause such loss to flockowners. 
Such food, however, does not form the whole of their diet, 
for they take bread, raw and cooked meat with other refuse 
from houses, and occasionally the eggs and young of other 
birds. They also eat many wild fru^s, for instance the berries 
of the mountain ash, white beam, and elder, whilst their 
increasing fondness for pears, plums, and especially cherries, 
has brought them into disrepute with many fruit-growers. 
Another charge brought against starlings is that they take 
corn. At present this tendency is not developed to a very 
serious extent, but their habits are undergoing a change for 
the worse, and it is within the bounds of possibility that in 
the futui’e they may become a serious pest. When looking for 
a site for their untidy nest and pale blue eggs, they usurp the 
holes excavated by woodpeckers, and to such an extent that 
these interesting birds are seriously reduced in numbers.' 
There are many other points of interest about the starling, 
but it must suffice to add that it is a wonderful mimic, repro- 
ducing the notes of the curlew, pewit, thrush, and many other 
birds with remarkable accuracy. 
The Rook, commonly called the Crow in the North of 
England and Scotland, is not looked upon with favour by the 
majority of farmers. The amount of harm it does is immense, 
but it also does a considerable amount of good, and there is, 
perhaps, no bird to which it is more difficult to assign a 
* Mr. 0. V. Aplin attributes the decrease of nuthatches to the same cause. 
