214 
STARLINGS. 
they are watched or not. They are cunning birds, and dis- 
cover in an instant, whether a passer-by has an eye to their 
movements, and perfectly aware whether he is following his 
own business or theirs. If he steps onwards, without troubling 
himself about them, they go in and out with perfect unconcern; 
hut if a glance of curiosity or observation is directed to their 
motions, they are all upon the alert ; the hearer of a tuft to 
the nest, wheels to the right about, and perching on the naked 
upper twig of a small beech-tree, or the projecting point of a 
gable end, sits there, uttering a particular note, which seems 
to give, as well as words could do, intimation to a mate to he 
on its guard, as a spy is at hand. If the weather is tolerably 
favourable, everything goes on smoothly and regularly; hut 
(and we have, in the journal of our Starlings’ proceedings, 
many instances on record) should a severe and sudden change 
occur, a violent storm of snow, or continuance of chilling 
winds, all operations are suspended ; not only the eaves and 
half-built nests, hut even the tower itself, battlements, weather- 
cock, and all, are deserted, till a return of fine weather, when 
the Starlings too return, and the work again proceeds. At 
length the nests are built, the eggs laid, and the young ones 
hatched. Then a new scene of noise, and activity, and hustle 
commences, increasing of course as the nestlings become older 
and more voracious. Then it is that the lawn becomes a 
favourite resort ; hitherto a few idlers may have hopped and 
pecked up a stray worm or two, hut now the search is a 
matter of serious occupation. 
Down they come, the sober- coloured hen, and the cock 
with the sun glittering on its spangled feathers, with claws 
and beaks as busily employed as if their very existence de- 
pended upon it. All however in good social harmony, never 
quarreling with the shy and less intrusive Thrush or Black- 
bird ; or with the lively Wagtails, contenting themselves with 
the lighter fare of the myriads of minute flies and beetles 
hovering over the fresh mown turf. 
The noise and hustle go on incessantly, till the young ones 
are fledged, when for a day or two they may he seen fluttering 
about the building, or taking short flights. At length, their 
