RED-WINGED STARLING. 
195 
particularly after the young- are hatched, the male, like 
most other birds that build in low situations, exhibits 
the most violent symptoms of apprehension and alarm on 
the approach of any person to its near neighbourhood. 
Like the lapwing of Europe, he flies to meet the in- 
truder, hovers at a short height over-head, uttering 
loud notes of distress; and, while in this situation, 
displays to great advantage the rich glowing scarlet of 
his wings, heightened by the jetty black of his general 
plumage. As the danger increases, his cries become 
more shrill and incessant, and his motions rapid and 
restless ; the whole meadow is alarmed, and a collected 
crowd of his fellows hover around, and mingle their 
notes of alarm and agitation with his. When the young 
are taken away, or destroyed, he continues for several 
days near the place, restless and dejected, and generally 
recommences building soon after, in the same meadow. 
Towards the beginning or middle of August, the young 
birds begin to fly in flocks, and at that age nearly 
resemble the female, with the exception of some reddish 
- or orange, that marks the shoulders of the males, and 
which increases in space and brilliancy as winter 
approaches. It has been frequently remarked, that, at 
this time, the young birds chiefly associate by them- 
selves, there being sometimes not more than two or 
three old males observed in a flock of many thousands. 
These, from the superior blackness and rich red of their 
plumage, are very conspicuous. 
Before the beginning of September, these flocks have 
become numerous and formidable ; and the young ears 
of maize, or Indian corn, being then in their soft, 
succulent, milky state, present a temptation that cannot 
be resisted. Reinforced by numerous and daily flocks 
from all parts of the interior, they pour down on the 
low countries in prodigious multitudes. Here they are 
seen, like vast clouds, wheeling and driving over the 
meadows and devoted corn fields, darkening the air 
with their numbers. Then commences the work of 
destruction on the corn, the husks of which, though 
composed of numerous envelopements of closely wrapt 
