. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. Birds; Reptiles. STABLINGS. 513 they roost among the reeds. Before retiring to rest they perform numerous manoeuvres in the air, the whole colony frequently describing rapid counter-flights round a common centre. They will sometimes continue repeating the eccentric evolutions for half 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 th
. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. Birds; Reptiles. STABLINGS. 513 they roost among the reeds. Before retiring to rest they perform numerous manoeuvres in the air, the whole colony frequently describing rapid counter-flights round a common centre. They will sometimes continue repeating the eccentric evolutions for half 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 lays five light blue eggs. The Starling is accused of seeking 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. There error. are two species described among European birds—Sturnm vulgaris. rig. 222.—The Peiieile or Baltimore Oriole {Icterus baltimo?^s. Wood). (the Common Starling), and Sturnus unicolor (the Sardinian Star- ling), which is black, and without spots, with the anterior feathers very 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 docility, 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, ed
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecad, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles
