“I must here mention that the rather high and rugged hills which hem in the sides of the Gulf of Smyrna
and the Vailey and Gulf of Bournatut, particularly towards the north, and form the foot of the higher hills,
consist of surface beds of limestone, covered with large erratic blocks of granite, of different shapes and
sizes. These massive stones, heaped one above another, leave no place for vegetation of any sort, except
the Asphodelus ramosus. Our way led northwards towards these pathless mountains; and, after a
wearisome ascent up the empty bed of a torrent, on whose banks the beautiful Meriwm oleander and the
charming Agnus castus grew luxuriantly, we arrived at the foot of the higher range above mentioned. We
had hardly begun to mount the hill before we noticed that there was not a stone or block which was not
covered with the white excrement of these birds, they resorted there in such multitudes; but how great was
our astonishment when we saw, at a distance of about 200 metres above us, the rocks covered with white,
as if lime had been spread out for 200 square yards! On arriving there, we found a real camp and battle-
field in one; the nests were in thousands, some quite open and uncovered, others so concealed amongst
the blocks of stone, that it was necessary to turn these over to find them; some were more than a foot
below the surface, and others could not be reached with the arms. They were often so close as to touch one
another, and were made with but little care, the birds contenting themselves with a slight hollow in the
ground, in which are placed some dead stalks of the Agnus castus, and, in a few instances, a lining of grass ;
in many cases the eggs were lying on the bare earth. This mode of nesting exposed them to the many
enemies which were roaming about on all sides ; it was for this reason that I remarked that we had found
a battle-field as well as an encampment ; for, to give you an idea of the number of nestlings destroyed by
jackals, martens, wild cats, rats, &c., I may state that in a space of about five square yards I counted
fourteen pairs of wings and the remains of three old birds ; and who can tell the number of eggs destroyed
by snakes? Indeed, it is wonderful how the Rose-Starlings can propagate at all with so many enemies to

encounter.

“The eggs, of which we found very few, measure, on the average, 13 lines in length by 93 lines in breadth.
I say, on the average, because we did not find two exactly alike, some being pear-shaped, others elliptical ;
some are fleshy white, others pearl-white tinged with blue, and some have a few dark specks at the larger
end. The shell is very beautiful, strong, and shining.

‘*’'The perseverance with which the Rose-Starlings search for grasshoppers seems to be due, not so much
for a supply of food, as for an instinctive desire of destruction or antipathy against them. One morning, as
I was observing five Rose-Starlings eating the fruit of a white mulberry-tree with great avidity, I saw two
or three of them dart down suddenly from the tree to the ground in order to kill some grasshoppers which
appeared between the swathes of a mown field of grass, and leave them without eating any of them. The
birds are so far from shy, that a person can easily remain within four or five paces without frightening
them, and on the trees they will remain with still greater confidence.”

“This well-known species,” states Mr. Jerdon, “ makes its appearance in the Peninsula of India about the
end of November or beginning of December, associating in vast flocks, and commits great havoc on the
grain-fields, especially in those of the Cholum or Jowaree (Andropogon Sorghum). When the grain is cut, it
commonly feeds on insects, which it seeks for on the ground; also on various grass-seeds, fruit, and flower-
buds. It disappears in March, though straggling parties are met with even in April. The majority of the
birds ina flock are in an immature plumage, of dirty fawn-colour, in lieu of the delicate salmon-tint of the
adult.” Mr. Elliot has the following interesting note on this species :—“ It is very voracious and injurious
to the crops of the White Jowaree, in the fields of which the farmer is obliged to station numerous
watchers, who, with slings and a long rope or thong (which they crack dexterously, making a loud report),
endeavour to drive the depredators away. The moment the sun appears above the horizon, they are on the
wing, and, at the same instant, shouts, cries, and the cracking of long whips resound from every side. The
birds, however, are so active that, if they are able to alight on the stalks for an instant, they can pick out
several grains. About 9 or 10 o’clock A.M., the exertions of the watchmen cease, and the birds do not
renew their plundering till the evening. After sunset they are seen in flocks of many thousands, retiring to
the trees and jungles for the night They prefer the half-ripe Jowaree, whilst the farinaceous matter is still
soft and milky.”

We learn from Bechstein that, like the Starling, the bird possesses considerable imitative powers, and that
a connoisseur in the song of birds, who heard the notes of one in captivity, without seeing the bird, fancied
he was listening to two Starlings, two Goldfinches, and perbaps a Siskin, and, when he found that the sounds
all emanated from a single bird, could not conceive how so much music could proceed from the same throat.

The Plate represents a male and a female, of the size of life, on the Tulip-tree (Liriodendron tulipifera),

y

which has now become naturalized in England.