320 



THE COMMON STARLING. 



with different shades of brown and white ; in the second year the crest is comparatively small 

 and scanty, the dark parts of the plumage have a brown tinge, and the rosy parts are duU and 

 washed with gi-ay or brown. 



The common Staeling is one of the handsomest birds, the bright mottlings of its plumage, 

 the vivacity of its movements, and the elegance of its form rendering it a truly beautiful bird. 



The color of the Starling is very beautiful, and is brietiy as foUows : The general tint is 

 an extremely dark purplish-green, having an almost metallic glitter in a strong light. The 

 feathers of the shoulders are tipped with buflf, and the wing-coverts, together with the quill- 

 feathers of the taU and wings, are edged with pale reddish-brown. The beak is a fine yellow. 



COBLMOtT STARLING aud UNICOLORED STAKLTNG.— «(«/■«!« vulgaris and unicolor. 



The feathers of the upper part of the breast are elongated and pointed. This is the plumage 

 of the adult male, and is not brouglit to its perfection until three years have elapsed. The first 

 year's bird, before its autumnal moult, is almost wholly of a bro\vnish-gi'ay, and after its moult 

 is tartly brown and partly purple and green. In the second year the plumage is more decided 

 in its tints, but is variegated with a gi-eat number of light-colored spots on the under and upper 

 surfaces, and the beak does not attain its beautiful yellow tinge. 



