STARLING, Stumm, a Linnman genus of birds of the order insessores; now the fam• ily sturaidx; nearly allied to cornidee, but in general of smaller size; the bill more slen der and compressed, its point nail-like; the wings long and pointed. They are natives of almost all parts Of the world, very generally gregarious, and some of them migratory. They feed on worms, insects, larvm, and fruits. Some of them follow herds of quadru peds, on account of the insects which attend them. The CommoN STARLING (Slur nas valgaris) is a beautiful bird, rather smaller than the song-thrush or mauls, brown, finely glossed with black, with a pale tip to each feather, giving the bird a fine speckle I appearance, particularly on the breast and shoulders; in advanced age it is mare titilt'orin in color. The plumage of the female is less beautiful than that of the male. Both sex •s are more speckled in winter than in summer. The starling is abun dant in litou. parts of Britain. and nowhere more so than in the Hebrides and Orkneys.
It is very abundant in the fenny districts of England. It is Palm! in all parts of Europe and throughout great part of Africa; and is al•o common in the n. of Asia. Starlings make artless nests of slender twigs, roots, and dry grass, in hollow ,1•ees, in holes of cliffs, under eaves of houses, or, readily enotiell. in boxes, which are often placed for them in trees or elsewhere near homes. They frequently breed twice in a sea son, and in autumn they unite in large flocks. The starling becomeS very pert end familiar in confinement, displays great imitative powers. and learns to whistle tunes. and even to articulate words with great distinctness. Its natural song is soft and sweet.— The AMERICAN STARLING or MEADOW LARK (S. Didoricianu8), is larger than the com mon starling. It is common in the United States, migrating northward in spring, and southward in autumn, and congregating in great flocks in autumn and winter.