THE STARLING.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 143, 12 June 1903, Page 2

THE STARLING.

** The starling is a bird of which little is written, but in habit it is one of our most peculiar British birds. It is as plentiful as any bird I know of; but how rarely do we see it mixing up with others ? It seems only to be at home in the company of its own species. They are most partial to going in flocks, but sometimes two or three may be seen together j but, even then, never associating or mixing up with other birds. To the credit of the starling be it said no one can give it a bad name. It works no destruction of anything of value, and is totally inoffensive. It may not be known that it is one of the most useful birds in existence to destroy all kinds of of grubs and insect pests which harbor on the surface of the ground. This is their occupation when seen picking over grass and other fields ; and, as some hundreds—or, indeed, thousands —of them may often often be seen so employed,-it may be imagined how very useful they axe; but I never knew them to eat corn or destroy useful seeds or fruit. One peculiarity of theirs may not be generally known, but I have noticed it very often of late. Near where I reside there is a large marshy pool of water in whijih long grass like vegetation grows in isome places, and it is in this that the. starlings delight to roost. At nightfall I have seen them comi&g in thousands off the land and from thfe woods to roost- in the sedge, where they u must be close to the water and swayed to and fro as the grass ie blown about. I could hardly credit at first that they would select such a place, but there is no doubt of it. For some time after going amongst the reeds they make a peculiar noise-*— certainly not a musical Bound, ami the mingling of their thousands of voices is not agreeable."—~W. Fox.