THE NATURAL HISTORY 
4 * 
fcizing the neft of the Wood Pecker, who ini 
its turn alfo ieizes upon the Starling’s neft. 
Sometimes too it will ufe the old neft: of a Thrufti, 
for it is not nice in thefe refpeCts, collecting only 
a few leaves, or other dry materials to lay its eggs 
upon; occaftonally they breed under the eaves of' 
houfes, in towets, ruins, in cliffs or high rocks , 
over the fea; the neft is frequently made of 
ftraw and fmall fibres of roots, and lined with 
leaves. 
Starlings are gregarious birds.—In winter 
they affemble in flocks. They colleCt in im- 
inenfc numbers in the fens of Lincelnfhire, and 
do great damage among the reeds, by roofting 
upon them in fuch multitudes, as to break them 
down by their weight ; for reeds are ufed there 
for thatch, and are the harveft of that country ; 
fometimes they are feen in company with Red¬ 
wings, and Fieldfares; they are eafily diftinguifh- 
ed from other birds by their manner of flying, 
which is very irregular, and diforderly. 
They feed principally on. worms, and infects; 
they will fometimes eat grain, and fome kinds 
of fruits, and they have been known to get into 
Pigeon-boufes,. to fuck the Pigeon’s eggs. 
They ire very docile, and difpofed to imitate ; 
for 
