Genus STURNUS, Linn.

Gren. Cuar. Bill straight, depressed, rather obtuse, and slightly subulated. _Nostrls_ basal,
lateral, and partly closed by a prominent rim. Wings long, the first feather very short,
the second and third the longest and equal. Feet with three toes before and one behind 3

the middle toe united to the outer one as far as the first joint.

STARLING.

Sturnus vulgaris, Lenn.

L’ Etourneau vulgaire.

Tue species formerly arranged under the old Linnean genus Sturnus have been separated into several distinct
genera, bearing their appropriate characters, and which now form an interesting family, the members of
which are very generally dispersed over the globe. The value of such separations is obvious to the Ornitho-
logist, as by a knowledge of the characters of each genus he is at once enabled to ascertain its true situation.

The number of species contained in the genus Sturnus, as now restricted, is very limited, and are strictly
confined to the Old World ; two of these species are natives of Europe.

The Starling is a social and familiar bird, and were it less common would be highly esteemed, its habits
and manners, and the variety of its plumage at certain ages and seasons being very interesting. Its range 1S
extensive, being dispersed in considerable abundance over Europe; it is also found at the Cape of Good Hope,
and from its being so numerous on the northern coast of Africa, we doubt not that they traverse the whole of
that continent. We have received it from the Himalaya Mountains, and have ascertained that it is found as
far east as China. It is a bold and spirited little bird, but soon becomes reconciled to confinement, where it
not only sings sweetly, but may be taught to articulate words and even sentences. Ina state of nature it
is very harmless, and renders great service to the farmer, by clearing his pastures and fields from grubs,
worms, and various other insects, on which it almost exclusively subsists. When in search of food, it runs
along the ground with great celerity, prying and peeping with a cunning eye under every loose sod and tuft
of grass.

The Starlmg congregates in large flocks during autumn and winter, and may be often observed in the
company of rooks, daws, and fieldfares. On the approach of evening many of these flocks unite, and before
going to roost this immense body may be seen traversing with undulating sweeps and evolutions the immediate
neighbourhood of their resting-place. They prefer for this purpose secluded and warm situations, such as
thickly set reed-beds, coppices, or plantations of fir. They pair early in the spring, and then spread themselves
over the face of the country in search of a convenient breeding-place, some selecting the holes of trees, others
old towers and ruins, and others the deserted nests of rooks, &c. They lay four or five eggs of a delicate
pale blue. The young during the first autumn are characterized by the stage of plumage represented in the
upper bird of our Plate; they begin to change in October, which is effected by a moult, and in the course of
a week or two after are adorned with feathers, the whole of which, with the exception of the primaries and
tail, are terminated with a large white or reddish white spot; the rest of the feathers being of a rich green
with bronze reflections, as in the lower bird of the Plate. From this their spotted plumage they gradually
change to that of the centre bird, having a fine yellow bill, and spotless lanceolate feathers upon the breast
and underparts,—a state of plumage which is certainly not attained till the third year ; and between these two
latter stages, birds may be found in the same flock which exhibit plumage in every intermediate state. It may
be observed, that as the feathers become elongated the white spot at the tip becomes less and less, till in the
old bird it is lost. The males and females at the same age offer but little difference in plumage ; the male,
however, is generally the most brilliant in his markings.

We consider that these birds breed at a year old, although their plumage, as above stated, afterwards
undergoes a considerable change.

The plumage of the old male in spring is peculiarly beautiful, not so much from its variety of colours as
from the glossy metallic hues with which it seems burnished, exhibiting ever-changing reflections of purple and
golden green ; the upper wing-coverts marked with small triangular whitish spots ; the lowen coverts and the
tail slightly edged with white ; beak yellow ; feet reddish flesh-colour :—the centre figure in our Plate exhibits

the bird in this stage.