142 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1896. 



Ammodramus princeps (Mayn.). Ipswich Sparrow. 



Plumages, first, winter and nuptial. 



Molting exactly as in A. sandwichensis savanna. Specimens taken 

 March 15th, Atlantic City, N. J. and March 29th, Cape Charles^ 

 Va., show the spring molt in progress. 



Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna (Wils.). Savanna Sparrow. • 



Plumages, first, winter and nuptial. 



Another winter plumage occurs much browner than the usual one 

 which may be characteristic of the birds of the year. A complete 

 annual molt occurs at the end of the breeding season, and a more 

 or less complete molt of the body feathers takes place in spring. 

 Birds taken just before the spring molt show eflTects of abrasion, 

 especially on the tertials and resemble July birds. After the 

 molt new tertials have been acquired and a general renewal of 

 the feathers of the breast, head and rump has taken place, so that 

 the birds are in most respects indistinguishable from September 

 specimens ; the yellow stripe over the eye is also acquired at this 

 molt. Whether this spring molt is universal with all the individuals 

 or occurs every year, I cannot say with certainty. A series of speci- 

 mens taken January 25-26 (Cape May, N. J)., shows a good deal 

 of variation in the amount of abrasion. 



Ammodramus savannarum passerinus (Wils.). Grasshopper Sparrow. 



Plumages, first, winter and nuptial. 



After the annual molt the plumage of this species is subject to 

 continued abrasion which materially alters the depth of colors by 

 the following breeding season, the under surface becoming much 

 lighter and losing much of the brown cast while the colors elsewhere 

 are in sharper contrast. In such material as I have examined I can 

 find no trace of a spring molt. The spotted first plumage is retained 

 until about the middle of August. A specimen taken Aug. 10, in 

 Chester Co., Pa., shows the beginning of the molt of the body feath- 

 ers while another Aug, 26, from the same locality, shows no sign 

 of molt, this, perhaps, belonging to a later brood, 

 Ammodramus henslowii (Aud.). Henslow's Sparrow. 



Such specimens of this species as I have been able to examine 

 indicate molts and plumages exactly parallel with the last. 

 Ammodramus caudacutus (Gmel.). Sharp-tailed Finch. 



Plumages, first, winter and nuptial. 



After the annual molt the Sharp-tailed Finch is subject to great 

 abrasion of plumage, which by March presents almost as worn an 



