APPENDIX. 461 



E. COLORATION PECULIAR TO YOUNG BIRDS OR TO 

 MATURE BIRDS IN THE WINTER 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 gradu- 

 ally, but often slowly, the characteristic coloration of their sex, and 

 in this way sometimes pass through confusing 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 Introduction, 

 etc.) The following is a synopsis of the Insessorian families. 



Turdidce or Thrushes ( 1). Young easily recognized, but often 

 more or less abnormally * spotted. 



Saxicolidce or Bluebirds (2). Young essentially like the fe- 

 male ; when very young, spotted. 



Regulince, " Wrens" or "Kinglets " ( 3). Young essentially 

 like the female. 2 



1 I. e., abnormally in respect to maturity. 



2 Young satrapa, if without crown-markings, may be known by the pres- 

 ence of a tiny bristly feather overlying the nostrils ; this is wanting in " calen- 

 dulus." (Coues.) 



