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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 dull and 

 washed with gray or brown. 



The common Starling 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 briefly as follows: 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 buff, and the wing-coverts, together with the quill- 

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



COMMON STARLING and UNICOLORED STABLING.— Slurnus 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 brought to its perfection until three years have elapsed. The first 

 year's bird, before its autumnal moult, is almost wholly of a brownish-gray, and after its moult 

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

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

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



