BIRD STUDY 23 



Besides the changes in color of plumage that 

 occur with the development of the young birds, 

 there are the interesting changes that result 

 from the annual moultine. From the great activ- 

 ity of the mating and nesting season, the suit 

 worn during the spring migration becomes much 

 faded and frayed, so that by midsummer there 

 is need for new clothes. By the process of moult- 

 ing, the old feathers are cast off and new ones 

 quickly replace them. At this time birds are 

 inactive, rather shy, and apparently low 

 spirited, for little song is heard. With many 

 varieties it happens that the new suit is so un- 

 like the old that we do not easily recognize the 

 bird in his new dress, except for certain familiar 

 call notes, poses, habits of flight, and little man- 

 nerisms which we come to associate with individ- 

 ual birds, as we do with human beings. At this 

 season the male Bobolink doffs his gay suit of 

 black, white and buff and dons the plain 

 brownish gray suit worn by his mate all the 

 year. That little dandy, the Goldfinch, puts 

 away his brilliant suit of black and gold and 

 appears in a sober dress in which the prevailing 

 color is dull olive green. The Scarlet Tanager 

 also changes his beautiful red suit and seems 

 content for the balance of the year to wear the 

 modest colors of his wife. Birds that change 

 color at this season moult again in the early 

 spring, when they don their bright colors for 

 the period of song and mating. So they are sup- 

 plied with two new suits each year. Truly 

 Mother Nature is a generous provider! 



Color Protection. A very interesting rela- 



