156 
BED-WINGED STABLING. 
evening begin to close in, millions assemble together in the 
marshes and beds of reeds, and there, unless disturbed, they 
pass the night. If, however, a gun is fired, up ‘en masse* 
the whole population arises, and performs every variety of 
evolution in the air, now wheeling high overhead, now gliding 
close to the surface, silent while on the wing, but commencing 
a loud and clamorous chuckling on alighting, after which 
they remain quiet during the rest of the night. The vast 
and countless multitudes of these birds which thus unite 
together, present in their various phases an aspect which 
Wilson describes as grand and even sublime. At times they 
come on like a huge black cloud, driven before the wind 
with impetuous force, or suddenly rise from the ground with 
a noise like thunder. Now they alight on a sudden, descending 
to some resting-place like a torrent, and, again on the wing, 
they present a splendid appearance, the innumerable wings of 
the vast body glittering like an army, their vermilion uniform 
shining all the brighter in the sun from its contrast with 
the rest of their sable plumage: or the latter is turned 
towards you—a changeable ‘Rouge et noir,’ your indulgence, 
however, in the amusement of which will leave no vexation 
or trouble behind, but the peaceful delight which the con¬ 
templation of nature never fails to yield to the devout. 
Towards the beginning or middle of August the young 
birds begin to fly in flocks, and chiefly associate by themselves, 
there being sometimes not more than two or three old males 
observed in a flock of many thousands. These birds are sold 
for eating, but they are considered rather dry and tough. 
Like their European cousins, they become very docile in 
captivity, and may easily be taught to repeat short phrases, 
or to whistle tunes with great exactness. While the female 
is sitting, and still more so after the young are hatched, 
the male exhibits great uneasiness if any intruder approaches 
the nest; and if the danger appears to increase, his anxiety 
and restlessness increase with it, until the neighbouring birds 
are alarmed likewise, and mingle their notes of distress and 
agitation with his. 
An astonishing quantity of grain is devoured by these 
birds, who are therefore under the ban of the farmer, but, 
says Audubon, that they have proved highly serviceable 
before they have commenced their ravages is equally certain. 
As soon as the corn begins to germinate, the Red-winged 
Starling, in company with other devastating species, is oecu- 
