. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . ottinghamshire, where STARLINGS. ol3 they roost among the reeds. Before retiring to rest they performnumerous manoeuvres in the air, the whole colony frequentlydescribing rapid counter-flights round a common centre. Theywill sometimes continue repeating the eccentric evolutions for halfan hour before they finally settle for the night. Their favouritefood is seeds and berries, and occasionally insects, worms, and smallterrestrial mollusks. They choose for their
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . ottinghamshire, where STARLINGS. ol3 they roost among the reeds. Before retiring to rest they performnumerous manoeuvres in the air, the whole colony frequentlydescribing rapid counter-flights round a common centre. Theywill sometimes continue repeating the eccentric evolutions for halfan hour before they finally settle for the night. Their favouritefood is seeds and berries, and occasionally insects, worms, and smallterrestrial mollusks. They choose for their nests well-protectedplaces, such as the hollows of decaying trees, crevices of walls,the belfries of old churches, the ledges of roofs, and sometimes eventhe interior of pigeon-houses. The nest is formed of dry grass,in which it lavs five lio-ht blue ego^s. The Starling is accused ofseeking the shelter of the dovecot for the purpose of sucking theinhabitants eggs, but this is now found to be a calumniouserror. They are difiused over all quarters of the globe. Thereare two species described among European birds—Sturnus vulgaris. Fig. 222.—The Pensile or Baltimore Onule (Icterus baitimi/rus. Wood). (the Common Starling), and Sturnus unicolor (the Sardinian Star-ling), which is black, and without spots, with the anterior feathersvery long, tapering, and drooping from the base of the neck. Itis found in Algeria among the rocks, where it builds. It passesthe winter on the African coast of the Mediterranean, in companywith the Common Starling. Its flesh is bitter, and consequentlyunpleasant to the taste, but it is sought after for its docility, andfor the ease with which it is taught to speak, L L 514 PASSEEINES. The Baltimore Orioles {XantJtornis baltimorii, Sw.) Lave thebill broad at the base, nearly conical and pointed ; the uppermandible has the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge narrow,the sides flat and sloping at the base. They are chiefly Americanbirds, and have consi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecad, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles
