APPENDIX. 439 



E. Coloration peculiar to young birds, or to mature birds in 

 the ivinter-season. 



Young birds are so called from the time of first being fully 

 feathered until the acquirement of all the characteristics of 

 maturity. They are for the most part more or less distinct 

 from their parents in general appearance, though often closely 

 alike among themselves in different species. But, since they 

 are known on attaining their full growth, but before attaining 

 their full coloration, often to be larger than their parents 

 (owing to their long feathers), they in some cases, particularly 

 among the hawks, seem mature before being so. 



Young birds may be classified in three divisions. 



(1). Those with the male-parents strikingly different from 

 the females, as in the Scarlet Tanagers, or Orchard Orioles. 

 These at first resemble the females, but afterwards, if males, 

 assume gradually, but often slowly, the characteristic colora- 

 tion of their sex, and in this way sometimes pass through con- 

 fusing changes. 



(2). Those differing from their parents, who are essentially 

 alike, as in the Robins. 



(3). Those -who essentially resemble both their parents, as 

 in the Crows. 



Young birds do not generally differ from their parents, except 

 in size and coloration, but those of all species with " booted" 

 tarsi, are said to have scutellate tarsi. (See T of the Intro- 

 duction, etc.) The following is a synopsis of the Insessorian 

 families. 



Turdidcc, or thrushes ( 1). Young easily recognized, but 

 often more or less abnormally 1 spotted. 



Saxicolidce or bluebirds ( 2). Young essentially like the 

 female ; when very young, spotted. 



Regulince, " wrens," or "kinglets" ( 3). Young essentially 

 like the female. 2 



Paridce or titmice ( 4). Class third. 



Sittidce or nuthatches ( 5). Young like the females or less 

 distinctly marked. 



Certhiidce or creepers ( 6). Class third. 



Troglodytidce, or wrens ( 7). Class third. 



Anthince or titlarks ( 8). Class third. 



1 i. e. Abnormally in respect to maturity. 

 >. if without crown- markin 

 leather overlying the nostrils; this ia wanting* in calendulut." 



* Young sfitrapn, if without crown-markings, may be known by the " presence 

 of a tiny bristly featl: 



(Coues.) 



