THE ROSE-COLOURED PASTOR. 
119 
the stranger, and to make some notes as to its general appear- 
ance and habits, which are usually described as precisely re- 
sembling those of the Starling. In this case some slight points 
of difference most certainly existed. The flock was several 
times disturbed, and llew off to other feeding-grounds ; but the 
Pastor, while apparently desirous of keeping up with it, was 
not seldom left some distance behind, and even upon the 
ground it sometimes wandered far away. When the Starlings 
made any sudden stop or wheel, it became widely separated 
from them ; but, like them, it usually alighted abruptly, although 
occasionally circling a little before it settled. It approached 
the cows fearlessly, and twice darted rapidly forward to seize 
an insect apparently upon the foot of one of them. I think it 
procured the whole of its food either upon or above the surface 
of the ground ; for during the whole time of my presence, a 
period of about three hours, I never observed it boring with 
its bill. Its companions were constantly thus boring, the 
hour being early and the ground still soft. When by an in- 
cautious movement I either occasioned a slight noise or exposed 
myself to view, the main body of the Starlings, obedient to the 
warning cry of the most vigilant, immediately paused, looked 
up in their peculiar manner, and took flight ; and the Pastor, 
when it happened to notice any movements of alarm, at once 
took the hint and made off with the rest, but the cry alone 
was evidently lost upon it, meeting with not the smallest 
attention. Upon the ground the Pastor was certainly well 
able to outstrip its companions, progressing, like them, by means 
of a series of rapid steps, and differing chiefly by its lighter 
and more vivacious movements and by carrying the body more 
horizontally. Indeed, I fancied that in general appearance 
it more closely resembled a Blackbird. It was rather fond 
of standing upon a stone or a slight eminence whenever 
an opportunity offered ; and altogether its peculiar motions 
and apparently careless search for food presented a decided 
contrast to the sober business-like demeanour of the Star- 
lings. Its note was a little like that of a Starling, but less 
