296 Maurice Amsler—The Breeding of the Amethyst Starling



When showing anyone my birds I always especially point out the

cock Amethyst and he invariably evokes cries of admiration from

visitors.


It so happens that his favourite perch is between the onlooker and

the sun during the afternoon, and he much prefers to display his white

chest—which is not what one wants—but with his back towards me

I have often and often noted the most wonderful iridescence from black

through brown to the most wonderful amethyst, and finally, occasion¬

ally, a shade which I can only describe as white—a reflection,

I suppose, of the whole spectrum.


These birds are, in my experience, quite inoffensive though I have

not kept them with other insectivorous species.


Towards small Doves, Quail, and even the smaller Finches they

are absolutely harmless, even when feeding young.


Although the male arrived in March there was no sign of nesting

until 18th July. Both birds were always quite friendly and the male

usually uttered a little warbling song whenever his mate approached

his perch. On the above date the hen was noticed to be carrying leaves

which had fallen into the aviary from an overhanging willow tree.

The site she had chosen was a Berlepsch Starling log made from silver

birch, the entrance hole of which I had enlarged. It was quite 14 inches

deep and the hen, of course, disappeared each time she took in her leaves.

When reappearing she always sat peering out of the entrance hole for

some seconds before flying out—a precautionary measure, no doubt,

to make sure she was not being watched. This she continued to do

much later when she was feeding her young and the cock did

the same thing.


They were both very secretive in their family matters and always

sat quietly on their favourite perch looking quite bored if they thought

they were being watched. All our observations were made from behind

a creeper some 20 yards distant.


As soon as I had observed this sign of nesting, I feverishly collected

and spread around all the most attractive samples of soft hay, fibre,

feathers, and moss, but the hen and later the cock persisted in the use

of dead leaves—chiefly those of the willow. I should have mentioned

that during July my man picked up an egg in the aviary which I did



