162 STRA Y FEA THERS FROM MANY BIRDS. 



Pipits. In all these sub-families, there appears to be a 

 moult in spring, which extends to all the small feathers 

 of the body, but not to the quills or tail. Many of 

 these birds assume various nuptial tints in spring, as, for 

 instance, the vinous throat of the Red-throated Pipit, 

 the black throat and breast of the Pied Wagtail, and 

 the black throat of the Gray Wagtail. The Game 

 Birds have one complete moult in autumn, and most 

 of these species undergo considerable change in spring, 

 as, for example, the Partridges and Quails, which moult 

 most of the feathers of the head and neck. In some 

 species this is accomplished without a moult, the 

 feathers changing colour, as in the Willow Grouse, 

 which is pure white in winter, and mottled brown and 

 black in summer. The Bustards also moult many of 

 their small feathers in spring, especially on the head 

 and neck. The Grebes, the Divers, and the Auks have 

 a complete moult in autumn, and change all the small 

 feathers in spring, many of the species in these three 

 families presenting great differences between the breed- 

 ing and winter plumages the former of course being 

 much more brilliant and attractive. The Grebes moult 

 their quills in autumn so rapidly, all of them falling out 

 almost simultaneously, that for some little time the 

 birds are unable to fly. The winter plumage of the 

 Divers, obtained after the autumn moult, is carried a 

 very short time, for the birds begin to don their 



