150 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol ix. 



scarcely noticeable in the autumn, becomes marked in the 

 following spring and summer. After the moult of the second 

 autumn they are indistinguishable from the adults. 



Family Sturnid^. 



The two British members of this family, the Starling 

 {Sturmis V. vnlgan.s) and the Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor 

 roseiis) have the same moults, the adults having one complete 

 moult in early autumn (beginning with the wings in the 

 Starling sometimes as early as June), and the juveniles 

 have a complete moult into the first winter phimage. 



Starling {Sturnus v. vulgaris). 



Adults. — The sexual difference in the adult Starling, 

 although not very marked, is very interesting, the shape of 

 the body-feathers in the two sexes being different. In the 

 females the feathers are rather shorter and broader and 

 not so sharply pointed, thus the buff and grey tips of the 

 feathers are larger in the female, and give the bird a more 

 spotted appearance in all stages of plumage than the male. 

 In summer the adult male often has scarcely a trace of spots 

 because the tips of its pointed feathers have worn off. Mhilc 

 the female loses less of the s])ots owing to the more rounded 

 tips of the feathers. The metallic colours of the female are 

 also less brilliant, and, on the secondaries and greater wing- 

 coverts, less extensive. 



Juvenile. — As is well known, the juvenile is brown without 

 any metallic colouring. Sexes alike. 



First winter and summer. — The juvenile plumage iscom- 

 pletely moulted in the first autumn, and the birds become 

 like the adults, except that the tips of the feathers are less 

 pointed even than in the atlult female, and consequently 

 the first winter birds of both sexes are considerably more 

 spotted than the adult female. After the second autumn 

 moult they become indistinguis]ial)Ic from tlic adull. 



Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor roseus). 



Adults. — The female is duller ])iuk and less glos.sy and has 

 a shorter crest than the male. The difference in winter and 

 summer is marked by reason of the pale brown tips of the 

 feathers, which, in winter, when the plumage is fresh, ob.scure 

 much of the metallic colours of the head as well as the rosy- 

 pink of the mantle and back. As in many other birds the 

 plumage when it becomes worn, although less perfect, is 

 much moic brilliant. 



