THE STARLING. 
717 
nest, but return every evening to the reed-beds, where 
they congregate together in thousands, and keep up such 
a nocturnal concert as to banish sleep from the eyes of 
the neighbouring inhabitants. 
The Starling is in every respect deserving of our 
sympathy. It is a useful creature, even though it occa¬ 
sionally nips off our salad-leaves, plucks up a few plants, 
or finds our cherries and grapes to its taste. Such damage 
as it does commit is more than compensated for by its 
diligence in cleaning our gardens and fields from noxious 
creatures; thus, one is not justified in persecuting it. For¬ 
tunately, in Germany, the capture of Starlings in large 
numbers occurs in but few localities. These comical, jovial 
birds are much oftener seen in the cage or aviary. If caught 
young, the Starling becomes very tame indeed, learns to 
whistle tunes, imitate words or any other striking sounds; 
it is also very fond of placing itself in all sorts of antic- 
like postures. Lenz kept a young Starling which accom¬ 
panied him like a dog, in the house, and about the garden 
and fields, thus affording him infinite pleasure. Trimolt 
speaks of another which would mimic the crying of a 
child in a most extraordinary manner, to the great wrath 
and distress of the neighbouring nurses; and at last it 
learnt to imitate the notes of a trumpet to perfection. So 
much is related of the vocal accomplishments of other 
Starlings, which have been kept long in confinement, 
that I can only recommend our merry friend more than 
ever to the notice of the bird-fancier. 
