226 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



and Woodpecker families of the Order Picariae — nearly 

 all hole-nesting birds. The young are hatched naked, and 

 acquire their first plumage without any intermediate 

 downy stage. 



(2) The type found in the Order Passeres and in the 

 Hoopoe family of the Order Picariae. The young are born 

 naked, except for a very few down-feathers growing here 

 and there from the still hidden tips of the first real 

 feathers, which soon sprout. (For other characteristics, 

 see page 230.) 



(3) The type found in the Heron and Cormorant 

 Orders. The young are born naked, or nearly so, but 

 soon acquire a good down-plumage, which is later re- 

 placed by the first plumage of true feathers. 



(4) The type found in the Bird-of-Prey, Owl, Pigeon, 

 and Petrel Orders, and in the Nightjar family of the 

 Order Picariae ; the Auk Order also falls under this head 

 if treated as nidicolous. The young go through similar 

 stages to those of the third type, but they already possess 

 the down-plumage when they leave the shell. 



The plate shows three stages in the early life of a 

 bird of the second type, the Blackbird [Passeres : Turdidae ; 

 Turdinae] : 



(1) About a week old, in the nest. 



(2) Just out of the nest. 



(3) Well-grown, and with the ' first plumage ' complete. 



