164 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



pairing time in spring. They may often be seen 

 accompanying a flock of Rooks and Jackdaws. 

 When the young birds are half moulted they 

 have a curious patchy appearance, which is caused 

 by the new black feathers appearing amongst the 

 brown nesting feathers. It is only after the 

 Starling is two years old that he acquires the 

 fine yellow beak and gorgeous spotted plumage 

 we all admire. 



The young of the Wild Pigeon do not have 

 the white neck feathers, which give the 

 name " Ring-Dove " to the species. They only 

 acquire these after they moult. 



Herons are three years old before they get 

 the elongated crest, or the long, finely-spangled 

 feathers at the base of the neck in front, without 

 which the bird looks plain and unfinished. The 

 young may also be known by the brown tinge 

 on the grey plumage of the back. 



The young of the Blackbirds resemble some- 

 what the mature female in colour of plumage, the 

 upper parts being a blackish brown, and the 



