260 POULTRY AND WILD BIRDS 
all the species, except in a large manual. When not other- 
wise specified, the descriptions of birds apply to adult males 
in their spring plumage. It will easily be seen that these 
variations and changes in color increase the difficulty of the 
observer immensely. In the fall, when a large portion of the 
birds we see are immature, it is difficult to recognize some of 
them except by the adults in the flock. By far the best way 
to simplify the problem is to make the acquaintance of new 
species upon their arrival in spring. 
Color and Molting. — We are all familiar with the loss of 
feathers which domestic fowls suffer in the later part of sum- 
mer. This is the molting process, and affects all bird life. 
That is, at the close of the breeding season all birds renew 
their entire plumage by molting. The following spring most 
birds again renew a portion of their feathers, while some birds 
have another complete molt. It is easy to see how a change 
of color scheme may be accomplished in this way, but in some 
cases the changes in the spring are brought about by wear- 
ing off the terminal fringes which covered and concealed the 
brighter colors during the winter. 
