Page:Harmonia ruralis (Bolton, 1794) (IA harmoniaruraliso00bolt).pdf/24



Starlings make their nests in old buildings, such as castles, towers, &c, and sometimes in the clefts of rocks.

The nest before me is formed of straw in the lower part, in the middle with a coarse kind of hay, and the inner coat or lining of fine soft hay, with a few feathers. The whole is a rude and loosely compacted fabrick, neither firm nor handsome.

In this nest was four eggs, about the size of those of the throstle, they are of a pale bright blue, with a cast of green, and are destitute of spots.

The Starling is not valued for his own song, but for the beauty of his plumage, for his docility and aptness in learning to whistle or to speak. Those who wish to have good birds for caging, should have them taken out of the nest at three or four days old; for if they are suffered to remain ten or twelve days in the nest, they will retain, for their whole lives, too much of their own harsh notes and disagreeable scream.

As soon as they are taken out of the nest, they may be kept a small basket, with soft dry moss. Let them be kept reasonably warm, and fed often, giving them but little at a time. Let the moss be renewed every day, and let them at all times be kept dry and clean, for on this care depends your success. Such tunes or notes as you wish them to learn, should be played or whistled to them, from the first day you take them out of the nest.