92 
RED-WINGED STARLING. 
London; and on being opened, its stomach was found to be filled 
with grub worms, caterpillars and beetles; which Bufibn seems 
to wonder at, as “in their own country,” he observes, “ they 
feed exclusively on grain and maize.” 
Hitherto this species has been generally classed by naturalists 
with the Orioles. By a careful comparison, however, of its bill 
with those of that tribe, the similarity is by no means sufficient 
to justify this arrangement; and its manners are altogether dif- 
ferent. I can find no genus to which it makes so near an ap- 
proach, both in the structure of the bill and in food, flight and 
manners as those of the Stare, with which, following my judi- 
cious friend Mr. Bartram, I have accordingly placed it. To the 
European the perusal of the foregoing pages will be sufficient 
to satisfy bim of tbeir similarity of manners. F or the satisfac- 
tion of those who are unacquinted with the common Starling of 
Europe, I shall select a few sketches of its character, from the 
latest and most accurate publication I have seen from that quar- 
ter.* Speakiug of the Stare or Starling, this writer observes 
“ In tbe winter season these birds fly in vast flocks, and may 
be known at a great distance by their whirling mode of flight, 
which Bufibn compares to a sort of vortex, in which the collec- 
tive body performs a uniform circular revolution, and at the 
same time continues to make a progressive advance. The evening 
is the time when the Stares assemble in the greatest numbers, 
and betake themselves to the fens and marshes, where they roost 
among the reeds: they chatter much in the evening and morn- 
ing, both when they assemble and disperse. So attached are 
they 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 Red-wings, [a species of Thrush,] Fieldfares, 
and even with Crows, Jackdaws and Pigeons. Their principal 
food consists of worms, snails and caterpillars; they likewise 
eat various kinds of grain, seeds and berries.” He adds, that 
“ in a confined state they are very docile, and may easily be 
* Bewick’s British Birds, part i, p. 119, Newcastle, 1809, 
