THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
lemon-yellow, which changes to dark brown in autumn ; 
tarsi and toes reddish brown; irides brown. Length 
8 inches. The female is more spotted with buff and grey 
than the male, and the long, hackle-like feathers on the 
throat are not so developed. Bill yellow, tipped with 
brown in summer; brown in winter. The nestling is 
almost uniform smoke-brown, palest on the under parts, 
which are more or less streaked. After the autumn 
moult the adult Starling has much of its pristine beauty 
concealed by buff tips to the feathers, which gradually 
abrade as spring advances. ‘The metallic colours also 
intensify. 
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