194 
NATURAL HISTORY 
pointed, and of a yellowish brown — in old birds deep 
yellow; the nostrils are surrounded by a prominent rim; 
the eyes are brown; the whole plumage is dark, glossed 
with green, blue, purple, and copper, but each feather is 
marked at the end with a pale yellow spot; the wine co- 
verts are edged with yellowish brown; the quill and tail 
feathers dusky, with, light edges: the legs are of a reddish 
brown. 
From the striking similarity, both in form and man- 
ners, observable in this bird and those more immediately 
preceding, we have no scruple in removing it from its 
usual place, as it evidently forms a connecting link be- 
tween them, and in a variety of points seems equally 
allied to both. Few birds are more generally known than 
this, it being an inhabitant of almost every climate; and 
as it is a familiar bird, and easily trained in a state of 
captivity, its habits have been more frequently observed 
than those of most other birds. The female makes an 
artless nest in the hollows of trees, rocks, or old walls, 
and sometimes in cliffs overhanging the sea: she lays four 
or five eggs, of a pale greenish ash colour: the young 
birds are of dusky brown colour till the first moult. In 
the winter season these birds fly in vast flocks, and may 
be known at a great distance by their whirling mode of 
flight. 
So attached are the starlings to society, that they not 
only join those of their own species, but also birds of a 
different kind, and are frequently seen in company with 
redwings, fieldfares, and even with crows, jackdaws, and 
pigeons. Their principal food consists of worms, snails, 
and caterpillar^: they likewise eat various kinds of grain, 
seeds, and berries, and are said to be particularly fond 
of cherries. In a confined state they eat small pieces of 
raw flesh, bread soaked in water, &c. are very docile, and 
may easily be taught to repeat short sentences, or whistle 
tunes with great exactness, and in this state acquire a 
warbling superior to their native song. 
Ring Ouzel. (PI. 30.) This bird’s general colour is 
of a dull black or dusky hue; each feather is margined 
with a greyish ash colour; the bill is duskv; corners of 
