THE ENGLISH MOCKING-BIRD.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—When I was Governor of the County Prison in Mon- mouthshire at Usk some five-and-twenty years ago I had very favourable opportunity of watching the starlings. An ivy- covered wall opposite my window was much resorted to by sparrows for nesting ; I observed that the starlings habitu- ally stole the sparrows' eggs. , flying away with the blue morsels in their beaks with apparently an air of triumph! They used to imitate most cleverly the chipping of the stone- breakers and the grind of the treadwheel, besides other comical mimicry. The power of imitation of the English +darling is only exceeded by the hill mynah (Gracculus Indicus), of which I have a happy recollection in India and Durmah. Of this bird there are usually some fine specimens to be seen and heard In the insect-house at the Zoological Gardens. But to return to Usk, I should like to add an interesting fact : the garden inside the walls of the county prison was worked by prison labour ; a robin attached himself to a prisoner employed in potting plants, spending most of the day perched upon his shoulder.—I am, Sir, &c.,
E. S. M.
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