1 66 STRA Y FEA THERS FROM MANY. BIRDS. 



Good examples of this interesting fact are presented in 

 the Brambling and the Chaffinch among Finches, in the 

 Snow Bunting among Buntings, in the Shore Lark 

 among Larks, in the Ring Ousel among Thrushes, and 

 in the Redstart and Wheatear among Chats. The 

 males of all these birds in the breeding season are 

 bright and conspicuous in colour, yet when newly 

 moulted in autumn the long pale edges to the feathers 

 conceal much of their beauty. The Shrikes and 

 Swallows moult in a somewhat abnormal manner, 

 leaving this country in autumn in their worn and 

 abraded summer plumage, the young birds in the 

 plumage of their youth, but appearing in spring in a 

 complete new dress, having performed their moult far 

 away in Africa in their winter quarters, just previous to 

 their journey northwards. The Bee Eaters, Rollers, 

 Kingfishers, and Woodpeckers are also birds of single 

 moult ; so are the Rails, the Coot, and the Moorhen. 

 The Owls, Petrels, Ducks, Geese, Swans, and Pelicans 

 only moult once, in autumn. It is a curious fact in the 

 economy of the Ducks that in most species the male 

 birds moult their small feathers twice in the year, but 

 the females only once. Both sexes, however, have only 

 one complete moult in the year. The female moults as 

 soon as her brood is safely reared ; but the male begins 

 to do so as soon as his mate has laid her eggs, all his 

 small feathers dropping out and being replaced by 



