File:Birds of Britain (1907) (14568970217).jpg

Identifier: birdsofbritain00bonh (find matches)
Title: Birds of Britain
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Bonhote, J. Lewis (John Lewis), 1875-1922 Dresser, Henry Eeles, 1838-1915
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain
Publisher: London, A. and C. Black
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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und except therattling together of the reeds as they settle, and in a fewminutes all is quiet once more. At daybreak the flockdivides into smaller parties which set out to forage in theneighbouring country. In the afternoon, as their hunger isappeased, the scattered flocks begin to collect again, and it isthen that we may observe the evolutions referred to above,till finally at dusk they are all roosting once more in thereed-bed. After staying in the locality for some time, theirnumbers being increased by fresh arrivals daily, they willone night fail to return to their accustomed quarters, butwill instead start on a long journey on which we are unableto follow them. Apart, however, from these large flocks,smaller bodies will be found throughout the winter, wander-ing over the country and even penetrating the parks andgardens of our large cities. In March and April a migrationof small flocks returning to their accustomed breeding 152 STARLING Sturnus vulgarisAdult (right). Young (left)
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The Starling haunts takes place, but the immense flocks of the autumnare never seen, and we can but suspect that Nature has insome way or other taken heavy toll of them. Any hole in a tree or wall, the roof of a house, drain-pipes,church towers, or cliffs suit this species for a nesting-site.An untidy mass of straw, grass, and rubbish is collected toform a nest, and a few feathers, or wool, are added as lining.Five eggs of a uniform pale blue form the clutch, and twobroods are reared in the season. The young when fledgedbegin at once to join with those from other nests and thusform the nucleus of the immense flocks which are, perhaps,one of the main characteristics of this species. It feeds chiefly on insects, worms, and slugs, which aresought for in damp meadows and pasture-lands. It walksin a curious deliberate way, and on seeing a likely wormcasting, it pushes in its closed beak, and after drawing itback with open mandibles, the hole, thus enlarged, isexamined for the grub it may c

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