“ I must here mention tliat the rather lilgh and rugged hills Avhlch hem In the sides of the Gulf of Smyrna 
and the Valley and Gulf of Bournatut, particularly towards the north, and form the foot of the higher hills, 
consist of surface beds of limestone, covered with large erratic blocks of granite, of different shapes and 
sizes. These massive stones, heaped one above another, leave no place for vegetation of any sort, except 
the Asphodelus rumosiis. Our way led northwards towards these pathless mountains ; and, after a 
wearisome ascent up the empty bed of a torrent, on whose banks the beautiful Nerium oleander and the 
charming Agnus castus grew luxuriantly, we arrived at the foot of the higher range above mentioned. We 
had hardly begun to mount the hill before we noticed that there was not a stone or block which was not 
covered with the white excrement of these birds, they resorted there in such multitudes ; but how great was 
our astonishment when we saw, at a distance of about 200 metres above us, the rocks covered with white, 
as if lime had been spread out for 200 square yards ! On arriving there, we found a real camp and battle- 
field In one ; the nests were in thousands, some quite open and uncovered, others so concealed amongst 
the blocks of stone, that it was necessary to turn these over to find them ; some were more than a foot 
below the surface, and others could not he reached with the arms. They were often so elose as to touch one 
another, and were made with but little eare, the birds contenting themselves with a slight hollow in the 
ground, in which are placed some dead stalks of the Agnus castus, and, in a few instances, a lining of grass ; 
in many cases the eggs were lying on the hare earth. This mode of nesting exposed them to the many 
enemies which were roaming about on all sides ; it was for this reason that I remarked that we had found 
a battle-field as well as an eneampment ; for, to give you an idea of the number of nestlings destroyed by 
jackals, martens, wild cats, rats, &c., I may state that in a space of about five square yards I counted 
fourteen pairs of wings and the remains of three old birds ; and wlio can tell the number of eggs destroyed 
by snakes ? Indeed, it is wonderful how the Rose-Starlings can propagate at all with so many enemies to 
encounter. 
“ The eggs, of which we found very few, measure, on the average, 13 lines in length by 9J- lines in breadth. 
I say, on the average, because we did not find two exaetly alike, some being pear-shaped, others elliptical ; 
some are fleshy white, others pearl-white tinged with blue, and some have a few dark specks at the larger 
end. The shell is very beautiful, strong, and shining. 
“ The perseverance with which the Rose-Starlings search for grasshoppers seems to be due, not so much 
for a supply of food, as for an instinctive desire of destruction or antipathy against them. One morning, as 
I was observing five Rose-Starlings eating the fruit of a white mulberry-tree with great avidity, I saw two 
or three of them dart down suddenly from the tree to the ground in order to kill some grasshoppers which 
appeared between the swathes of a mown field of grass, and leave them without eating any of them. The 
birds are so far from shy, that a person can easily remain within four or five paces without frightening 
them, and on the trees they will remain with still greater confidence.” 
“ This well-known species,” states Mr. Jerdon, “ makes its appearance in the peninsula of India about the 
end of November or beginning of December, assoelating in vast flocks, and commits great havoe on the 
grain-fields, especially in those of the Cholum or Jowaree {Andropogon Sorghu77i). When the grain is cut, it 
commonly feeds on insects, which it seeks for on tbe ground ; also on various grass-seeds, fruit, and flower- 
buds. It disappears in March, though straggling parties are met with even in April. The majority of the 
birds in a flock are in an immature plumage, of dirty fawn-colour, in lieu of the delieate salmon-tint of the 
adult.” Mr. Elliot has the following Interesting note on this species : — “ It is very voracious and injurious 
to the crops of the Wlilte Jowaree, in the fields of whieh the farmer is obliged to station numerous 
watchers, who, with slings and a long rope or thong (which they crack dexterously, making a loud report), 
endeavour to drive the depredators away. The moment the sun appears above the horizon, they are on the 
wing, and, at the same instant, shouts, cries, and the cracking of long whips resound from every side. The 
birds, however, are so active that, if they are able to alight on the stalks for an instant, they can pick out 
several grains. About 9 or 10 o’clock a.m., the exertions of the watchmen cease, and the birds do not 
renew their plundering till the evening. After sunset they are seen in flocks of many thousands, retiring to 
the trees and jungles for the night. They prefer the half-ripe Jowaree, whilst the farinaceous matter is still 
soft and milky.” 
We learn from Bechstein that, like the Starling, the bird possesses considerable imitative powers, and that 
a connoisseur in the song of birds, who heard the notes of one in captivity, without seeing the bird, fancied 
he was listening to two Starlings, two Goldfinches, and perhaps a Siskin, and, when he found that the sounds 
all emanated from a single bird, could not conceive how so much music could proceed from the same throat. 
The Plate represents a male and a female, of the size of life, on the Tulip-tree {Liriode7idro7i tulip fera^, 
which has now become naturalized in England. 
