428 LOXIA EUROP^A. 



grey colour, both the upper and lower parts strongly marked 

 with oblong blackish-brown spots, so as to bear a considerable 

 resemblance to the plumage of the Corn Bunting. The rump 

 yellowish. The w^ngs and tail are blackish-brown. 



I have reason to suspect that so long as they remain in the 

 nest, the tips of their mandibles are not laterally deflected. 



Progress toward ^Iaturity. — The females vary less than 

 the males as they advance in age. The colours become lighter 

 and more tinged with yellow ; the rump of a purer tint ; and 

 the dark central markings on the feathers gradually fade. The 

 males after the first moult, are, according to M. Temminck, 

 " of a dull red, yellowish-red, greenish-yellow, or dull yellow, 

 shaded with reddish.'" I have seen individuals of all these 

 tints, but am unable directly to trace the changes which the 

 males undergo, although, judging from analogy, they are pro- 

 bably regular, and not of the miscellaneous character above 

 described. 



It appears to me that the males after the first moult have all 

 their feathers tipped with greenish-yellow, that colour being 

 more decided on the rump ; the quills and tail-feathers nar- 

 rowly edged with the same. At the next moult the feathers 

 are tipped with red, the wings and tail edged with the same, 

 the rump yellowish-red. Individuals killed during the change, 

 of course exhibit a varying mixture of yellow and red feathers. 

 At the third moult the red is much brighter. Indeed I feel 

 confident, in consequence of having minutely examined a great 

 number of specimens, that the above is the order of change. 



The transition from large and strong-billed individuals of 

 this species to the Loxia Pytiopsittacus, is so direct that I 

 am in great doubt as to the latter being distinct. Not hav- 

 ing specimens to compare in all stages, I am obliged to take 

 up the species on the authority of others. 



