Noble Rollin
Young birds vary in the way they grow up. Much depends on whether they are active from the first, or whether they remain in the nest until they can fly. Those that are restricted to the confines of a nest are often hatched in an almost naked state, blind and dependent on their parents for food and warmth. More active species that do not stay in the nest are hatched with their eyes open, have a warm covering of down, and, although guided and helped by their parents, search for their own food.
When fully feathered, the young may be coloured and marked like their parents, or like one of them, or they may be unlike either parent. One of the most interesting examples of difference between parents and young is shown by the starling - the young of these dark, glossy-coated birds being pale brown.

Young birds have so many enemies that mortality is very high. Of the vast numbers hatched out, only comparatively few reach maturity. Many are now killed by a new enemy, the motor-car, and towards the end of the summer, when the number of young birds is at its height, the road claims a large toll.

Noble Rollin, who is to give this interesting talk, studies the habits of birds at his research station in Northumberland.