THE MOULTING OF BIRDS. 169 



factorily determined. Young Larks in first plumage 

 are more or less uniformly barred or spotted with shades 

 of brown buff and yellow. After moulting this plumage 

 the young birds closely resemble adult females, but the 

 under parts are more streaked, and in some cases, as in 

 the Sky Lark, the feathers of the upper parts are tipped 

 with dull white. The young of the Bee Eater in first 

 plumage differ considerably from their parents ; the 

 green and blue on the forehead is absent, the chestnut 

 head is suffused with green, and the chestnut and 

 yellow remainder of the upper parts are dark and light 

 green respectively. The under parts are duller, the 

 throat band is only faintly indicated, and the centre 

 tail feathers are no longer than the others. When this 

 plumage is moulted the young males resemble adult 

 females. Young Rollers and young Kingfishers re- 

 semble their parents in colour, but the plumage is 

 suffused with brown, most strongly in birds in their first 

 plumage ; and in the young Kingfisher the breast is 

 banded with greenish brown. The first plumage of the 

 Woodpeckers is very interesting, inasmuch that in the 

 Great Spotted Woodpecker the scarlet on the head is 

 more developed than it is in the adult birds ; and in the 

 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker the crown of the young 

 females is scarlet, but white in the adult female. After 

 the first autumn moult the adult plumage is fully 

 assumed. In the Green Woodpecker the young are 



