30 
RED-WINGED STARLING. 
beetles ; which Buffon 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 different. I can find no genus to which it makes 
so near an approach, both in the structure of the bill and in 
food, flight, and manners, as those of the Stare ; with which, 
following my judicious friend Mr Bartram, I have accordingly 
placed it. To the European, the perusal of the foregoing 
pages will be sufficient to satisfy him of their similarity of 
manners. For the satisfaction of those who are unacquainted 
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 quarter.* Speaking of the 
Stare, or Starling, this writer observes, “ In the winter season, 
these birds fly in vast flocks, and may be known at a great 
distance by their whirling mode of flight, which Buffon 
compares to a sort of vortex, in which the collective body 
performs an 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 
morning, 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 
Bewick’s British Birds, part i. p. 119. Newcastle, 1809. 
