176 
Mr. P. L. Sclater on the occurrence 
mile from each other. Whilst singing, they spread their tails over 
their heads like a peacock, and droop their wings to the ground, 
at the same time scratching and pecking up the earth. They 
sing in the morning and evening, and more so in winter than at 
any other season. The young cocks do not sing until they get 
their full tails. This, I fancy, takes place in the fourth year, as 
I have shot them in full feather with the tail in four different 
stages, the two centre curved feathers being the last to make 
their appearance. They live entirely upon small insects, prin¬ 
cipally beetles, and partake largely of sand, which accounts for 
their preferring sandy localities. Their flesh is not eatable, being 
dark, dry and tough, and quite unlike that of other birds. They 
breed in mid-winter, commencing to build their nests in May, 
laying in June, and having young in July. The nest is gene¬ 
rally placed on the side of some steep rock where there is suffi¬ 
cient room to form a lodgement, so that no animals or vermin can 
approach it. It is constructed of small sticks, interwoven with 
moss and fibres of roots. The inside is lined with the skeleton 
leaf of a parasitical tree-fern, which resembles horse-hair. The 
nest is covered over, having the entrance on the side. Only one 
egg is laid, of a very dark colour, appearing as if it had been 
blotched over with ink. The young bird for the first month is 
covered with a white down, and remains in the nest about six 
weeks before it takes its departure. It is four years before 
it arrives at maturity. The native name for this Menura is 
“ Calwin.” 
Singleton, Dec. 9, 1859. 
XVII.— Notice of the occurrence of the American Meadow-Star¬ 
ling (Sturnella ludoviciana) in England. By Philip Lutley 
Sclater. 
A short time ago, the Rev. Henry Temple Frere, of Burston 
Rectory, near Hiss in Norfolk, forwarded for my inspection a 
specimen of the Meadow-Starling of North America ( Sturnella 
ludoviciana ), stated to have been killed in this country in the 
course of last year. Its plumage was in fine condition, and did 
not show the slightest traces of the bird having been in cap- 
