352 Passeres. BIRDS. Sturnid.®. 
the upper mandible generally exhibit a slight notch- 
The wings in the Starlings are long and generally 
pointed ; the tarsi are of moderate length, stout, and 
covered in front with broad shields ; the toes are long 
and tolerably powerful, the hinder one especially being 
of considerable length and stoutness, and the outer 
front toe is imited'to the middle one as far as the third 
joint. 
It is impossible to mistake the close alliance of these 
birds with those of the family Corvidae, with which 
they have much in common both in their structure and 
habits. They are for the most part sociable in their 
habits, collecting in flocks, especially during tire autumn 
and winter ; and even during the breeding season they 
arc generally to be seen in company. Their food con- 
sists of worms, insects, fruits, and grain — articles which 
also constitute a considerable portion of the diet of the 
Crows ; but the Starlings do not appear to imitate the 
latter birds either in their taste for carrion or in their 
predatory propensities. They are, however, sagacious 
birds, and become docile and amusing in captivity, 
when some of them may be taught various tricks, and 
even to speak a few words. 
THE COMMON STARLING {Sturnus vulgaris), Plato 
12, fig. 40. — This well-known bird, which occurs 
abundantly in almost every part of tlie British isles, is 
also an inhabitant of the continent of Europe, and 
appears to be generally distributed over the whole of 
the eastern hemisphere. It is a handsome bird, its 
black iilumage exhibiting tints of puri)le and green, 
according to the direction in which the liglit falls upon it, 
and being also adorned with numerous spots and streaks 
of buff and pale reddish-brown. In the autumn the 
Starlings collect into large flocks, consisting of old and 
young birds, whicli fly together in search of food, and 
roost together at night. Sometimes many of these 
flocks select some mass of trees as a common roosting 
place, to which they come, night after night, in thou- 
sands, until at last, from the accumulation of excrement, 
the place becomes most offensive. The food of these 
birds consists of worms, insects, slugs, and snails, 
together with berries and seeds, the latter especially 
during the autumn and winter. In pursuit of insects 
and worms, the}' may constantly be seen in small 
parties upon meadows and lawns, sometimes in com- 
pany with rooks and other birds. When thus engaged, 
they run by the alternate movement of their feet. The 
nest is built in a hole in some rock or building, or 
occasionally in a hollow tree, and the Starling is accused 
of building sometimes hi pigeon houses. The materials 
of the nest are small twigs, straw, grass, and roots. 
These appear to be collected and arranged jirincipally 
by the female. The eggs are four or five in number, 
and of a beautiful pale blue colour. 
In confinement the Starling is an intelligent, docile, 
and sprightly bird, which may be taught many tricks, 
and exhibits a good deal of resemblance to some of the 
Crows in his disposition. He will learn to whistle short 
tunes, and even to repeat a few words, although, not- 
withstanding the celebrity he has acquired in this 
respect from Sterne’s well-known story, his power of 
imitating the human voice is far inferior to that of the 
raven or the magpie. 
THE ROSE-COLOURED PASTOR {Pastor roseus), a 
common bird in Asia and Africa, is also met with in 
the south of Europe, and specimens have occasion- 
ally found their way into this country. It is of the 
same size as the Common Starling, namely, eight inches 
and a half in length ; the [)lumage of the body is of a 
delicate rose colour, and the head, neck, wings, tail, 
lower tail-coverts, and legs, are black, with a blue gloss. 
The feathers of the crown of the head are elongated, 
so as to form a sort of crest. In its habits this bird 
resembles the Starling, associating in large flocks, and 
feeding upon insects, • worms, and grain. From the 
great quantities of insects, especially locusts, which 
these birds destroy, they are in some jilaces regarded 
almost in the light of sacred birds. Like our Starlings, 
they exhibit a great fondness for the vicinity of cattle 
and sheep, upon which they are nearly constant attend- 
ants, and this habit is alluded to in their name of 
Pastor. Their principal object in frequenting the 
society of cattle is to seize the insects which are dis- 
turbed by them from their resting-places in the grass ; 
but the Pastors also frequently perch upon the backs 
of cattle, and seek for the parasitic insects which infe.st 
their hair. 
THE COMMON MYNAH {Acrulotheres tristis), which 
is very nearly allied to the preceding, is a native of 
India, where it is a very abundant and familiar bird. 
Its habits pi-esent a sort of combination of those of 
’the Starling and the Jackdaw. It is fond of the vici- 
nity of cattle, like the Bose-coloured Pastor, and is very 
destructive to locusts and other insects. This bird is 
remarkable as having been introduced into the Mauri- 
tius in order to destroy rire locusts with which that 
island was infested at one time. It has performed its 
part so thoi’oughly, and increased to such an extent 
under the fostering care of the government, that insects 
are now very rare in the Mauritius. The nest is built 
in the hole of a tree, or in some nook about a house or 
other building. 
THE BANK MYNAH {Acrulotheres ginginianus), 
another abundant Indian species, is remarkable for 
digging deep holes in the banks of rivers for tire recep- 
tion of its nest. In other respects it resembles the 
preceding species. 
THE AMERICAN MEADOW LARK {Stimiella Ludo- 
viciana). — The bird known as the Meadow Lark in the 
United States is a species of the present family, nearly 
allied to the common Starling. It is found throughout 
the eastern part of North America, from Canada to 
Florida. This bird is about two inches and a half in 
length ; its plumage above is elegantly variegated with 
black, yellow, and bright bay ; the lower surface, and 
a line from the eye to the nostril, are rich yellow; 
across the front of the neck there is a crescent-shaped 
deep black baud, and the four outer tail feathers on 
each side are white. 
In its habits the American Meadow Lark presents a 
considerable resemblance to our Starling, collecting 
together in flocks, except during the breeding season, 
and feeding upon insects, worms, and seeds. When 
these birds perch on trees, they generally select the 
highest branches, and on alighting send forth a long, 
clear, melancholy note of great sweetness. They select 
