132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1896. 



Contopus virens (Linn.). AVood Pewee. 



I am unable to say, from an examination of spring specimens, how 

 much of a molt this species undergoes before its northward migra- 

 tion. Compared with specimens of the preceding they appear much 

 less abraded, which indicates that a partial spring molt occurs. 



Contopus borealis (Swains.). Olive-sided Flycatcher. 



The above remarks apply equally well to this species. 

 Empidonax. 



The species of this genus all resemble Contopus in the appearance 

 of their seasonal plumages. The freshness of the spring feathers 

 seems to indicate a partial spring molt at least, but without a satis- 

 factory series of winter specimens ; it is not possible to decide this 

 point. The renewal of the body plumage at the annual molt, as 

 in Tyrannus, begins before there is any molt of the flight feathers. 



Family ALAUDID^. 



Otocoris alpestris (Linn.). Horned Lark. 



Plumages, first, winter, nuptial. 



There seems to be no spring molt in this species, but a great deal 

 of abrasion takes place during winter and spring, by which the light 

 edgings to the black crown and throat patch are lost and the other 

 colors brought into stronger contrast. The young birds molt the 

 flight feathers at the end of summer along with the rest of the first 

 plumage. 



Family CORVIDJE. 



Cyanocitta cristata (Linn.). Blue Jay. 



Plumages, three; first, winter and nuptial, though, except for the 

 slight effects of abrasion, there is no difl^erence between the last two. 



There is no spring molt and the young molt only the body plum- 

 age at the end of their first summer. 



Perisoreus canadensis (Linn.). Canada Jay. 



Three plumages, first, winter and nuptial. 



I have not been able to examine a satisfactory series of this species 

 but feel pretty sure that its molt is the same as in the preceding. 



Corvus oorax principalis RiJgw. Raven. ^ 



1 have been unable to prove the number of molts in the raven by 

 actual examination of molting specimens, but such material as I 

 have before me indicates a precisely similar molt to that of the crow. 



