BIRDS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. 153 



sides, a beautiful pearl gray, except the inner edge of 

 the secondaries, with their tips, and those of the scapu- 

 laries, which are white. Quills, with the upper parts gray, 

 dusky towards the tips, with the outer web of the outer 

 feather, and a narrow basal line along the inner web of 

 the terminal portion of each feather, black. Basal portion 

 and shaft of each feather, together with the margins of 

 the inner webs and whole under surface of the wing, white. 

 Rump, upper tail-coverts, tail-feathers, abdomen, and un- 

 der tail-coverts, pure white, except the terminal portion 

 of the outer webs of the two outer tail-feathers on each 

 side, which are dusky. The chin, upper part of the throat, 

 and a line running from the base of the bill under the eye 

 to the occiput, also white ; the chin and throat are some- 

 times tinged with ashy. The under eyelids are black. 

 Feet, small ; tarsus, short. The transverse scales on the 

 tarsi and toes are very much ridged ; the upper part 

 of the webs and under surface of the feet are covered 

 with small, granulous protuberances; both of these facts 

 give the feet a peculiar appearance. Color, bright ver- 

 milion. 



Young. The young-of-the-year, the ensuing spring, 

 differs from this in having the bill longer, thicker, and more 

 curved, with a small part of the basal and a spot near 

 the tip of the upper mandible dusky ; the bill is not so 

 intense in color. There are a few white feathers near the 

 base of the bill in the black of the head. The upper parts 

 generally, with the exceptions of the wing-coverts, which 

 are darker, are lighter. The outer webs of all the tail- 

 feathers are dusky. The under parts are paler. The feet 

 are not so intense in color. 



Young-of-the-year in autumn* differs from the preceding 



* This stage of plumage has been before unknown to authors, at which 

 I am somewhat surprised. The specimens that I am describing were shot 

 with the old, who exhibited considerable solicitude. 



7* 



