. The history of birds : their varieties and oddities, comprising graphic descriptions of nearly all known species of birds, with fishes and insects, the world over, and illustrating their varied habits, modes of life, and distinguishing peculiarities by means of delightful anecdotes and spirited engravings . 144 THE STARLING. reported of them that they get into pigeon-houses for the purpose ofsucking the eggs. The female builds an artless nest of straw and small fibres, in thehollows of trees, rocks, or old walls, and sometimes in clifis that over-hang the sea. She lays four or five eggs, of
. The history of birds : their varieties and oddities, comprising graphic descriptions of nearly all known species of birds, with fishes and insects, the world over, and illustrating their varied habits, modes of life, and distinguishing peculiarities by means of delightful anecdotes and spirited engravings . 144 THE STARLING. reported of them that they get into pigeon-houses for the purpose ofsucking the eggs. The female builds an artless nest of straw and small fibres, in thehollows of trees, rocks, or old walls, and sometimes in clifis that over-hang the sea. She lays four or five eggs, of a pale greenish-ash color. The Starling is a familiar bird, and in a state of captivity is easilytrained. Its natural voice is strong and hoarse; but it may be taught,v» ithout difficulty, to repeat short sentences, or to whistle tunes withgreat exactness. In a state of confinement it will eat small pieces ofraw flesh, or bread soaked in water. This well-known harmless inhabitant of meadows and old fields isnot only found in every part of the United States, but appears to be aresident in all the intermediate region, from the frigid latitude of 53°,and the territory of Oregon, to the mild table land of Mexico, and the. CESEBT LARK. tropical savannahs of Ouiana. In the winter they abound in Alabamaand west Florida, so that in some degree, like tlie Jays, and the legit-imate Starlings, they partially migrate in quest of food during thoseverity of the weather in the colder states. It is not however improb-able, but that most of the migrating families of this bird, which we this season, have merely travelled eastward from the cold westernplains that are annually covered with snow. They are now seen inconsiderable numbers in and round the salt marshes, roving about inflocks of ten to thirty or more, seeking the shelter o^ the sea-coast,though not in such dense flocks as the true Starlings; these in themanner of our common Blackbirds assemble in winter, like dark clouds,movi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectzoology
