. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders : with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . Birds; Reptiles. STARLINGS. 513 fhey roost among tbe reeds. Before retiring to rest they perforin numerous manceuvres in the air, the whole colony frequently describing rapid counter-flights round a common centre. They will sometimes continue repeating the eccentric evolutions for hall an hour before they finally settle for the ; Their favourite food is seeds and berries, and occasionally insects, worms, and small terrestrial moUusks. They choose
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders : with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . Birds; Reptiles. STARLINGS. 513 fhey roost among tbe reeds. Before retiring to rest they perforin numerous manceuvres in the air, the whole colony frequently describing rapid counter-flights round a common centre. They will sometimes continue repeating the eccentric evolutions for hall an hour before they finally settle for the ; Their favourite food is seeds and berries, and occasionally insects, worms, and small terrestrial moUusks. They choose for their nests well-protected places, such as the hollows of decaying trees, crevices of walls, the belfries of old churches, the ledges of roofs, and sometimes even the interior of pigeon-houses. The nest is formed of dry grass, in which it lavs five light blue eggs. The Starling is accused of seekino- the shelter of the dovecot for the purpose of sucking the inhabitants' eggs, but this is now found to be a calumnious ; They are diffused over all quarters of the globe, ihere are two species described among European UvdsStwvms vulgaris. Fig. or BillimurL-. Oiiule {IcUrus baltamrus, Wuod) (the Common Starling), and Sturnus unkolor (the Sardinian Star- line) which is black, and without spots, with the anterior feathers veiy 'long, tapering, and drooping from the base of the neck. It is found in Algeria among the rocks, where it builds. It passes the winter on the African coast of the Mediterranean, in company with the Common Starling. Its flesh is bitter, and consequently unpleasant to the taste, but it is sought after for its dociHty, and for the ease with which it is taught to speak. L L. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894; Gillmore, Parker.
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License: Licensed
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectrep
