AUTUMN. 163 



The Swifts have gone, but the Swallows and 

 Martins are still with us. The young birds are 

 now to be seen in plenty, and it is of interest 

 to note the difference in colour of plumage be- 

 tween the old and young. The young Starlings 

 have not got the velvety, shining black with the 

 purple reflections that constitute the plumage 

 of the old birds. Before the young moult their 

 nest feathers, which takes place in the autumn, 

 their plumage is a dirty brownish black colour, 

 and they have sometimes a little white on the 

 throat and belly. Some of the old naturalists 

 thought the young Starling was a Thrush, and 

 described it under the name of the Solitary Thrush; 

 and as they left specimens from which the}' 

 formed an opinion, there is no doubt that they 

 were in error. From the name given Solitary 

 Thrush it may be assumed that they were not 

 practical ornithologists, and knew little of the 

 habits of these birds, as young Starlings are 

 anything but solitary, living together in large 

 flocks durine the autumn and winter and until 



