140 NATURAL HISTORY. 
They continue (inging till the moulting 
fi-nlbn draws nesr. when they naturally defift; 
th^-y wiil, liowcvcr, when they have done 
moulting, relume their note for a fliort time 
previous to the winter. 
The S T A 11 L I N G. 
T H E ftare, or llarling, m.ay be dillin- 
guiUied from the relief the fparrow tril^e, 
by the variegation of its feathers, which in 
fome lights Ihow a glolfy green, and in others 
a beautiful purple. 'I'hc feathers of the hc’ad, 
neck, and upper part of the bread: arc black, 
interfpci'fed with feathers of diflercnt co- 
lours, which eauics it to vitry, as above def- 
cribed. 
Starlings alTcmblc in vaft flocks during 
winter, and feed upon worms and infeeds ; 
but, on the approach of fpring, they meet 
in the fields, as if to confult ; during this time, 
wdiich lall fcveral days, they feem to abftain 
from all kind of nourifliment. 
Such is the capacity of this bird to receive 
inflrudlion, that it will imitate the human 
voice to the greatefl: nicety. Sterne, in his 
Sentimental journey, gives a very entertain- 
ing account of one of thefe birds which he 
met with on his travels. 
If a llarling is taken w'hcn about ten days 
old, and properly taught, it is a very valua- 
ble 
