MUIRHEAD`S MYSTERIES:THE WONDERFUL BATTELL OF STARELINGS....CORK,IRELAND,1621

Hello again folks, Muirhead`s Mysteries is back again in a blaze of glory, or feathers as the case may be:

The Journal of the Cork Historical And Archaeological Society Vol 2A 1893, William Corliss`s Biological Anomalies Birds,(1998) John Michell and Robert Rickard`s Living Wonders (1983) all report on a battle amongst starlings in Cork, Ireland in 1621. This was origanly recounted in a pamphlet held at the British Library (in 1893) that is, not today necessarily titled: `The Wonderful Battell of Starelings Fought at the City of Corke in Ireland,the 12^th and 14^th of October last past,1621. This was published in 1622.

“About the seventh of October last, Anno 1621,there gathered together by degrees an unusual multitude of birds called stares, in some Countries knowne by the by the name of starelings. These birds are for the quantity of their bodies strong,for their quality bold and ventrous, among themselves very loving, as may appear by their flights keeping together all times of the yeare,excepting breeding time. …The stares,or starlings,they mustered together together at Cork some foure or five daies before they fought their battells,every day more and more increasing their armies with greater supplies…(1) [Corliss, Michell and Rickard take up the story in Living Wonders (2):]

“Prior to the famed battle,two large flocks of starlings had been massing,one to the east of Cork,the other to the west. The birds were kept within the bounds of their apparently well-defined territories until 9:00am on October 12^th 1621. Bourne described what happened next.:

“Upon a strange sound and noise made as well on one side as on the other,they forthwith at one instant took wing,and so mounting up into the skies, encountered one another with such a terrible shock,as the sound amazed the whole citie….Upon this sudden and fierce encounter,there fell down into the citie, and into the rivers,multitudes of starelings,some with wings broken,some with legs and necks broken,some with eyes picked out,some their bills thrust into the breasts and sides of their adversaries, in so strange a manner, that it were incredible except it were confirmed by letters of credit and by eyewitnesses, with that assurance which is without all exception.

The conflict dragged on for two more days. On the 13^th., the carnage took place at some distance from Cork. The battle on the 14^th was again over Corke, and dead birds again rained down on the city.”(3)

Corliss then go on to detail a battle between ravens over Ginnhein, Germany in 1883:

“The Frankfurt (Germany) Journal writes: The gardener, Mr Georgius from Ginnhein, called at our office today with a chest full of dead ravens,victims of a battle which was fought high in the air among a flock of over four hundred of these birds near the above mentioned village. The ravens formed together into three detachments, and as if at a given signal flew at each other, and with savage cries seemed as if they would tear each other`s eyes out of their heads with their beaks.(4)

Corlis has this to say about bird battles:

“Anomaly Evaluation: We can only surmise that two bird armies would clash so viciously only because of a territorial dispute involving,say,choice nesting and feeding sites. The anomalous aspect of such battles is seen in the sharp division of the forces, their organisation,communication,discipline, and perhaps even strategy. Such characteristics are rarely seen in vertrebates,except,of course,among some primates!

Possible Explanations.Territorial disputes.

Similar and Related Phenomena. Some insects,particularly ants,engage in battles, but usually with different species.”(5)

There are probably many other records of bird battles buried in the literature. On page 393 of The Rough Guide to Unexplained Phenomena also by Michell and Rickard 2^nd ed. There is an illustration from 16^th century India of a battle between owls and crows.

1.J.C. The Wonderful Battell of Starelings Fought at the City of Corke, in Ireland, the 12^th and 14^th of October last past,1621 Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society Vol 2A 1893 p.260-261

2. J.Michell and R.Rickard Living Wonders (1983) p.154 in W, Corliss Biological Anomalies: Birds (1998) p.246

3. W.Corliss Biological Anomalies: Birds (1998) pp246

4. Corliss Ibid. p.246

5. Corliss Ibid p.246

That`s all for today folks.Supposing YOU the reader of this blog suggest something I can blog about and I`ll see if I have the data?

“Come in Boogi Boy,you`re late! Have you got the papers China-man gave you?” “Yes,Boogi,in the past this information has been supressed,but now it can be told,every man,woman and mutant on this planet shall know the truth about De-Evolution.” (Devo-Jocko Homo,video version.Do me a favour,for my birthday on the 5^th,watch this video on the Net.)

Richy