RED-WINGED STARLING. 
197 
able morasses ; and thither they repair every evening 
from all quarters of the country. In some places, how- 
ever, when the reeds become dry, advantage is taken 
of this circumstance, to destroy these birds, by a party 
secretly approaching the place, under cover of a dark 
night, setting fire to the reeds in several places at once, 
which, being soon enveloped in one general flame, the 
uproar among the blackbirds becomes universal ; and, 
by the light of the conflagration, they are shot down in 
vast numbers while hovering and screaming over the 
place. Sometimes straw is used for the same purpose, 
being previously strewed near the reeds and alder 
bushes, where they are known to roost, which being 
instantly set on fire, the consternation and havoc is 
prodigious ; and the party return by day to pick up 
the slaughtered game. About the first of November, 
they begin to move off towards the south ; though, 
near the sea coast, in the states of New Jersey and 
Delaware, they continue long after that period. 
Such are the general manners and character of the 
red-winged starling ; but there remain some facts to be 
mentioned, no less authentic, and well deserving the 
consideration of its enemies, more especially, of those 
whose detestation of this species, would stop at nothing 
short of total extirpation. 
It has been already stated, that they arrive in Penn- 
sylvania late in March. Their general food at this 
season, as well as during the early part of summer, 
(for the crows and purple grakles are the principal 
pests in planting time,) consists of grub-worms, cater- 
pillars, and various other larvae, the silent, but deadly 
enemies of all vegetation, and whose secret and insidious 
attacks are more to be dreaded by the husbandman than 
the combined forces of the whole feathered tribes 
together. For these vermin, the starlings search with 
great diligence ; in the ground, at the roots of plants, 
in orchards, and meadows, as well as among buds, 
leaves, and blossoms ; and, from their known voracity, 
the multitudes of these insects which they destroy 
must be immense. Let me illustrate this by a short 
