192 
ICTERUS PREDATORIUS. 
soon become agreeable domestics. One which I reared 
and kept through the winter, whistled with great 
clearness and vivacity at two months old. It had an 
odd manner of moving its head and neck slowly and 
regularly, and in various directions, when intent on 
observing any thing, without stirring its body. This 
motion was as slow and regular as that of a snake. 
When at night a candle was brought into the room, it 
became restless, and evidently dissatisfied, fluttering 
about the cage, as if seeking to get out ; but, when the 
cage was placed on the same table with the candle, it 
seemed extremely well pleased, fed and drank, drest, 
shook, and arranged its plumage, sat as close to the 
light as possible, and sometimes chanted a few broken, 
irregular notes in that situation, as I sat writing or 
reading beside it. I also kept a young female of the 
same nest, during the greater part of winter, but could 
not observe, in that time, any change in its plumage. 
SUBGENUS III. — XANTHORNUS. 
52 . ICTERUS PHJSNICEUS, DAUB. STURNUS PREDATORIUS, WILS. 
RED-WINGED STARLING. 
WILSON, PLATE XXX. FIG. I.- — MALE. FIG. II, FEMALE. 
This notorious and celebrated corn thief, the long 
reputed plunderer and pest of our honest and laborious 
farmers, now presents himself before us, with his female 
copartner in iniquity, to receive the character due for 
their very active and distinguished services. In inves- 
tigating the nature of these, I shall endeavour to render 
strict historical justice to this noted pair ; adhering to 
the honest injunctions of the poet, 
Nothing extenuate, 
Nor set down aught in malice. 
Let the reader divest himself equally of prejudice, and 
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