COMMON STARLING. 47 



The female Starling is very similar to the male at the 

 same age, but the plumage is rather less brilliant in colour, 

 and the white spots on the under surface of the body are 

 larger than those of the male ; but both sexes carry a much 

 greater number of spots from autumn to spring than from 

 spring to autumn ; the moult, however, only occurs and 

 produces a change in the autumn ; the change in the spring 

 is effected without moulting, by a partial alteration in the 

 colour of some of the feathers, producing greater brilliancy, 

 and by the loss of many of the light-coloured tips. 



Albinoes and buff-coloured varieties of the Starling are 

 not uncommon. 



