Habits of the Stormcock. 409 



manner in which they are brought about is stated ; and the 

 term " vernal moult " has been, in general, so very vaguely 

 applied (sometimes indicating an actual shedding and renova- 

 tion of the feathers themselves, and sometimes merely the 

 seasonal wearing off of their winter edgings), that I have 

 thought it best to decline altogether availing myself of their 

 assistance. I may just premise, however, before commencing, 

 that, independently of moulting, there are two principal modes 

 by which a great alteration in the appearance of the feathers 

 of birds is, in some cases, gradually brought about ; namely, 

 a direct change of colour in the feathers themselves, and the 

 gradual shedding, in spring (as has already been spoken of), 

 of their extreme tips, which are frequently of a different and 

 more dingy colour than that part of the feather which becomes 

 exposed to view when these have disappeared. A familiar 

 and beautiful illustration of both these changes is furnished 

 by the breast plumage of a male of the common, or song, 

 linnet (Zinaria cannabina). The coloured portion of these 

 feathers, in winter, is of a brownish red ; and they are tipped 

 with deciduous dusky edgings. In the spring, the latter gra- 

 dually wear off, and the dark maroon changes to a bright 

 crimson.* The same plumage which the ptarmigan acquires 

 in autumn becomes, in winter, white, and in spring gradually 

 re-assumes somewhat its former colour, but a still deeper one. f 

 Variations in general appearance, however, induced by a 

 change of colour in the feathers themselves, are of compara- 

 tively rather unusual occurrence. 



( To be continued.} 



Art. II. Notes on the Habits of the Stormcock, or Mistletoe 

 Thrush. By Charles Waterton, Esq. 



" Te, dulcis conjux, te solo in littore secum, 

 Te, veniente die, te, decedente, canebat." 



For thee, sweet mate, for thee he pour'd his lay, 

 At early dawn, and at the close of day. 



It is a pleasing and ingenious way to account for the song 

 in birds, by supposing that it is given to them by Nature, in 

 order that they may enliven the female during the lonely task 

 of incubation. At that interesting season of the year, one 



* Curiously enough, however, the song linnet's changes of tint do not, 

 to the slightest extent, ever take place in captivity. 



f Inspection of a considerable number of ptarmigans, at different sea- 

 sons, induces me to dissent from the general opinion, that the time o£ 

 moulting in these birds is confined to no particular period. 



Vol. IX. — No. 64. h 11 



