STARLINGS. 



345 



districts the fledged young gather together in dense flocks as early as July; and 

 with the advance of autumn young and old congregate at their favourite roosts in 

 prodigious numbers, feeding during the day in widely different localities, but flock- 

 ing together at their fa\ < mrit«- rendezvous before nightfall. Myriads of starlings 

 migrate along the British coasts in spring and autumn : hence their presence at one 

 or other of our lighthouses is frequently the subject of remark. Many individuals 



COMMON AND BLACK STARLING ([ nat. size). 



bred in northern Britain winter in the midland counties, frequenting half-flooded 

 meadows and other attractive haunts. 



The male in summer has the plumage black brilliantly shot with purple-green 

 and steel-blue : the feathers of the nape and upper-parts generally being 

 tipped with buff in the form of triangular spots. Professor Newton points out 

 that after the autumnal moult the starling is profusely spotted with buff, especially 

 on the lower-parts, but in the spring many of these spots become obsolete. The 

 plumage of the young is a dull brownish grey. 



