130 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1896. 



Colaptes auratus (Linn.). Flicker. 



Three plumages, first, winter and nuptial. 



The molt from first plumage begins in July, a specimen taken 

 August 9, 1893, in Montgomery Co., Pa. shows it about half com- 

 pleted. The annual molt of the old birds occurs at the same time. 

 I can find no trace of spring molt and abrasion produces little effect 

 upon the plumage until after May. Mr. F. M. Chapman has 

 described in detail the variation in the upper tail coverts in this 

 genus." 



Unfortunately I have been unable to examine a sufificient series 

 of the Macrochires to give a complete account of the molting of any 

 of the species, but have included such notes as I have. 



Family CAPRIMULGID^. 



Antrostomus vociferus (Wils.). Whip-poor-will. 



As shown in Wilson's figure this bird has an early downy plumage 

 which almost immediately gives place to the usual " first" plumage, 

 a specimen taken at Haddonfield, N. J., July 2, 1893, (Coll. W. 

 Stone), shows the transition. As regards the number and time of 

 molts, a comparison of specimens would indicate that they are the 

 same as the following. 



Chordeiles virginianus (Gmel.). Night Hawk. 



Mr. Wm. Brewster has described transition specimens from the 

 early downy plumage to the first plumage and similar ones are in 

 the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 

 from Florida. A specimen taken Sept. 10, is in the first plumage, 

 with many new feathers appearing on the breast and elsewhere, but 

 no molt of the flight feathers; how complete this molt is I cannot 

 not say. An adult specimen taken Sept. 1, shows much renewal 

 of the body plumage, but no trace of it in the wings or tail. It 

 would seem from this that the molt was quite late, and the loss of 

 the flight feathers relatively later than in most birds. I have seen 

 no trace of spring molt. 



Family MICROPODIDJE. 



Chaetura pelagica (Linn.). Chimney Swift. 



Plumages, first, winter, nuptial. 



The annual molt in this species occurs from Aug. 1 to the first 

 week of September and there seems to be no spring molt. Abrasion 



" Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. Ill, p. 311. 



