THE STARLING. 
However, this will never do, I never know when to leave off 
when once I begin to talk about old times and Bob the starling. 
Let me, therefore, proceed to give my readers some instruction 
as to the best way to treat their “ Bobs.” 
There is little difficulty in distinguishing the male from the 
female starling. The beak of the male is yellow ; of the female 
dark brown. The plumage of the former is bluish black, shading 
off to purple about the breast, and to green at the hinder parts. 
The tail and wings are black edged with light brown. The 
feathers about the head and neck are edged with grey, and those 
of the under part with a whitish hue, so that the bird’s plum- 
age has altogether a dazzling and uncertain appearance. The 
feather-edgings of the female are broader and more distinct, so 
that she has altogether a lighter appearance. 
The exact period at which the starling quits us for warmer 
climates is uncertain, and a good deal depends upon the state of 
the weather. They have been observed to depart as early as 
the middle of July ; but, supposing the weather to be tolerably 
mild, the second or third week in September witnesses the 
commencement of their annual migration — which continues for 
several weeks ; and about the third week in October, the star- 
lings have all taken their departure. Bishop Stanley 
has well described the habits of this bird, and I cannot give 
my readers a better account than by quoting his words. It 
appears that close to his residence was an ivy -mantled church, 
with massive grey towers, and a weathercock surmounting 
them. In the holes and crevices of this old building, a great 
number of starlings annually took up their establishment, and 
hence he had frequent opportunities of observing them. 
“ At the close of January,” he says, “ one or two unconnected 
birds now and then make their appearance. In February, if the 
weather happens to be mild, the number of idlers may possibly 
now and then increase; but still the visit seems to be but the mere 
passing call of a few strangers, without a leading object. In March, 
however, about the first or second week, according to the state of 
the weather, things begin to assume a more bustling appearance, 
and serious business begins. Hitherto, but one or two, or at 
most, three or four, may have dropped in, as if to say, Here we 
are; The winter is passed and gone, a happier season is at 
hand. # # About the latter end of the second week, 
affairs begin to be placed upon a more regular footing; the 
parties on or about the battlements and weathercock seem as 
if they had determined upon a permanent establishment. From 
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