gray dust, and, as well as all the coverts, enclosed with a bright rusty colour; the feathers of the head and neck with reddish white tips, which are rusty coloured in those of the back, and white in those of the under part of the body: the Starling has thus a spotted appearance.

In the female the beak is more dark brown than yellow; the bright spots, especially on the head, neck, and breast, are larger, and the margins of the wing feathers stronger, and, therefore, it has a much brighter and more variegated appearance. Old males have, besides, scarcely any white spots on the forehead, cheeks, throat, and abdomen.

There are several varieties of this bird, as indeed is the case with those birds which are caught in large numbers, such as

The White Starling; the Checkered Starling; the Whiteheaded Starling; such as are white on the body and black only on the head; and, the Ashy Gray Starling.

Starlings are found throughout the whole of the old world. Woods are their common resorting place, especially woods of those mountains and plains which are surrounded by meadows and arable land. But they prefer, above all, small plantations of deciduous trees and copses. In October they migrate to the south in large flocks, and return towards the beginning of March. During their journey they rest at night amongst reeds and rushes, and if a person happen by accident to pass such a spot at the time, they make an indescribable noise. Much amusement might be derived in its tame state from allowing the bird some freedom; but to ensure cleanliness in the room where it is kept, it must be onfined to a cage. The cage best suited for it should be either oblong, at least two feet long and one foot and a half wide, or a tower shape may be obtained by reversing the proportions. This allows it room to indulge its natural restlessness, and preserves its plumage smooth and unsoiled.

It feeds upon caterpillars, snails, grasshoppers, male crickets, the flies which annoy horses and other cattle in the fields, on grapes, cherries, all kinds of berries, and also on grain, as buck wheat, millet, hemp, &c. Its chief nourishment is the small

meadow grasshoppers, which it seeks both in their imperfect and matured state; and for this purpose it constantly frequents meadows. In the house it may be fed on meat, insects, bread, cheese, and the universal paste; indeed, any kind of food, pro

vided it is not sour. He may in general be readily familiarized, if meal-worms and ants' eggs be thrown to him as soon as he is placed in the room, and becomes immediately as much at home as if he had been reared on the spot; although some will be found, notwithstanding every care and precaution to induce them to eat, who will rather die of hunger than feed. It is fond of frequent bathing, and therefore requires a constant supply of fresh water. They often live to the age of ten or twelve years in a room.

Starlings construct their nests in the hollow stems and branches of trees, and even in wooden boxes and earthen vessels which are hung from trees; also beneath the eaves of houses, and in dove-cotes. The nest consists of dry leaves, blades of grass, and feathers, which are put together very inartificially. Like Swallows, they return yearly to the same nest, and cleanse it out on again taking possession. They hatch usually twice a-year, and each time lay seven eggs of an ashy gray green. The young, before the first moult, are more of a smoky colour than black, have no spots, and the beak is dark brown. When the young are removed from the nest they must be reared with roll steeped in milk. If an air be whistled to them they will soon learn to pipe much more purely and forcibly than the Bullfinch and Linnet, and can retain several strophes in succession without transposition. In Voigtland Starlings are treated like domestic pigeons; they eat the young, removing them before they can fly. In this way they will hatch three times a-year. The last brood, however, is usually allowed to fly, partly to maintain the stock, and partly to prevent the old birds from deserting the place. We are acquainted with instances, also, where they have hatched in the chamber, when a hole or pot has been placed for them in which to make their nest.

They are chiefly caught in autumn in the rushes, in nets made for the purpose, which bird-catchers, who live in spots where Starling-catching is practised, generally have in their possession. Amongst the sedge where they resort at evening, single birds may be caught from July in bow-nets with a bait of cherries.

In Thuringia, they are caught for the chamber in March; and if snow falls after their arrival, they then frequent marshes and moats. If then, in their vicinity, a spot be cleared from snow, and some limed sticks and worms are scattered about they are easily caught. They can be hunted to such a spot like domestic poultry.

The Starling becomes exceedingly tame in the chamber, is very tractable and cunning, and in this quality may be compared

with the dog. He is always cheerful and lively, speedily catches all the gestures and actions of the persons with whom he dwells, and will accommodate himself to them, knows when they are angry with him, walks about with a waddling gait, but very cautiously, and, notwithstanding his silly aspect, takes everything at a glance. He will also learn to repeat words, without its being necessary to loosen his tongue, can pipe songs (the female also), and imitates the human voice, the noises of all the animals, and the songs of all the birds he hears. What he has learnt, however, he soon forgets or blends it with new sounds. If it be therefore wished that a Starling should pipe but one melody, or repeat only certain words, he must be placed in a room where he can hear no other sound. Old Starlings are not always able to learn songs and other notes. At the present time we have one which, in the midst of the multitude of birds which we possess sings only its natural song. They sing almost throughout the year, moulting time only excepted.

LXXVII-THE NIGHTINGALE-(Motacilla luscinia).

HAD this bird no other qualification to recommend it than its plumage, it would not take a very distinguished position as a chamber bird. It is about the size of a Sparrow, being five inches long, of which two inches and a quarter comprise the tail; but in confinement, when well fed, it becomes larger, being frequently as large as a Lark, especially if reared from the nest. The beak, as throughout the genus Motacilla, is straight, cylindrical, thin, pointed, and seven lines long, and has nearly equal mandibles; the upper one being slightly emarginate, dark brown above, bright gray beneath, flesh-coloured at the base, and yellow within; the irides grayish brown; the feet brown flesh-coloured, nine lines high; the upper part of the body is also grayish brown with a rusty tinge, and in very old

birds it is a red ashy gray; the rump brown, inclining to red; the gullet and the abdomen, white; the breast and sides white ashy gray; the knees gray; the large coverts of the wings with pale dirty white

tips;

feathers gray

brown, with a

rusty yellow

margin; the broad straight tail feathers dirty rusty red; and,

as in all the

genus

Sylvia,

from their deli

cacy and fragility they are easily broken.

When kept in a chamber they are occasionally either darker or lighter; those which are kept near the window in large light apartments, and where the smoke of oil never occurs, become dark gray or light gray brown above, with a margin of rusty yellow to all the feathers; the under part of the body being white, and whitish gray at the sides of the breast and of the abdomen. Those which are hung in small dark apartments where the smoke of oil and other offensive vapours occur, become of a dirty rusty yellow above, gray white beneath, and grayish brown at the sides of the breast and of the belly.

The connoisseur alone can distinguish the female from the male by her gait and posture. She has not similar long legs, does not stand so upright, nor has she the same long pointed head-in her it is more rounded; the neck short and contracted; the eyes less bright, and smaller; and the throat not so white. But a person not familiarly acquainted with the bird would require to have both sexes before him to enable him to distinguish them.

The Nightingale greatly resembles the female Redstart, which is often sold for it; the Nightingale, in return, being