STABLIKG. 
151 
Starlings are intelligent, quick, and sprightly birds, and 
have a retentive memory. 
Their flight is straight, strong, vigorous, and rapid, performed 
with regularly-timed beatings of the wings: on the ground 
they walk with alternate steps. They alight in an abrupt 
manner on the open pasture, and immediately disperse, 
running nimbly along in earnest search of food, which if 
discovered underground is uprooted from thence. ‘During 
their search they are seldom altogether silent, some individuals 
commonly keeping up a chattering noise, and occasionally 
uttering a low scream, when interfered with by others. This 
scream prolonged and heightened is the intimation of alarm, 
and when heard from one or more of the flock, they imme¬ 
diately cease their search, look up, and if they should judge 
it necessary, fly off with speed to another generally distant 
part.’ 
They sometimes join flights of other birds in the air, such 
as Lapwings, and seem to keep in the van, and lead and 
guide the others backwards and forwards. It is a beautiful 
sight to watch a cloud of these birds, dividing in a moment 
into various detachments, and again as suddenly, re-uniting 
with as much harmony as the ranks of the best’ disciplined 
army. They assume in these flights all manner of shapes, 
even that of a balloon, and if threatened by a Hawk present 
a dense and compact mass, resistant on every side. 
The late Dr. Stanley, Bishop of Norwich, well describes 
the flight of a large flock as follows:—‘At first they might 
be seen advancing high in the air like a dark cloud, which, 
in an instant, as if by magic, became almost invisible, the 
whole body, by some mysterious watchword or signal, changing 
their course, and presenting their wings to view edgeways, 
instead of exposing, as before, their full expanded spread. 
Again, in another moment, the cloud might be seen descending 
in a graceful sweep, so as almost to brush the earth as they 
glanced along. Then once more they were seen spiring in 
wide circles on high, till at length, with one simultaneous 
rush, down they glide, with a roaring noise of wing, till the 
vast mass buried itself unseen, but not unheard, amidst a 
bed of reeds, projecting from the bank adjacent to the wood; 
for no sooner were they perched, than every throat seemed to 
open itself, forming one incessant confusion of tongues. If 
nothing disturbed them, there they would most likely remain, 
but if a stone was thrown, a shout raised, or, more especially, 
