248 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



and reflections with the movement of the bird in relation 

 to the source of Hght. The female shows less iridescence 

 than her mate, and her light spots are larger. The im- 

 matm"e bird is unspotted — and is brown above, gray below. 

 The Starling possesses a song of its own of no great 

 merit ; it is more notable on account of its great powers 

 of mimicry. These it habitually puts to the test with 

 much success ; notes and snatches of song of other birds — 

 often of widely different types — form the chief items in 

 its repertoire. 



Family, FRINGILLID^ (Finches, &c.) ; 

 Subfamily, FRINGILLIN^ (Finches). 



THE GREENFINCH 



(Ligurinus chloris). 

 Plate 79. 



The Finch family is one of the best-known groups of 

 ' Perching Birds,"" containing as it does so many of our 

 most familiar birds. Those members which we have to 

 deal with all show a great degree of resemblance in size, 

 form, and habits, but considerable variety in the matter 

 of plumage. This is often bright and showy in the cock, 

 the two sexes differing markedly in this respect. Im- 

 mature birds, as a rule, resemble the adult hen, but may 

 be even duller, and may have their colours obscured by 

 dusky bars. Although there is generally but one moult 

 in the year, there is, nevertheless, some seasonal change 

 in many cases. This is due to the shedding of dull tips 

 and edges in spring, which exposes the brighter portions 

 of the individual feathers. 



One of the most obvious structural characteristics of 



