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 favourite 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 STABLING (J liat. 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. 
