464 BULLETIN 2 03, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



cally fit to migrate. The adults generally disappear from the woods 

 as soon as the young can care for themselves. 



Polyandry. — Ordinarily the male and female ovenbirds have single 

 mates but H. W. Hann (1937) cites a case where one male had two 

 mates at the same time, and another in which a female copulated with 

 two neighboring males in her own territory, then later visited a neigh- 

 boring male in his territory during her incubation period. In a later 

 paper Hann (1940) records an observation in which two males as well 

 as the female were carrying food to the young in the nest. After these 

 complicated relations were noted a third male, not banded, appeared 

 on the scene. He repeatedly came near the nest, although chased by 

 the other males. His intent seemed centered chiefly in the female, as 

 he was not seen to feed the young, and apparently, according to Mr. 

 Hann, he was successful in some of his attempts at copulation. Hence 

 this female had three mates, although the third might well be con- 

 sidered an interloper. When the young left the nest the two banded 

 males took charge of one young each and the female cared for the 

 other three. 



No one else has made such an intensive study of the family interre- 

 lationships of the ovenbird as has Mr. Hann, with the aid of marking 

 and banding the individuals. Polyandrous matings may be more 

 common than has been supposed among species, such as the ovenbird, 

 that we have always thought to be monogamous. 



PJwnages. — [Author's Note : According to Dr. Dwight (1900) , the 

 natal down is "pale sepia brown." 



He describes the juvenal plumage, which is partially acquired in 

 the nest, as follows : "Above, including sides of head, cinnamon-brown, 

 sparingly spotted with olive-brown, the dusky lateral stripes faintly 

 indicated on the crown. Wings and tail olive-brown with olive-green 

 edgings, the coverts slightly tipped with pale cinnamon. Below, pale 

 cinnamon, yellowish white on abdomen and crissum, faintly spotted 

 or streaked on the sides of the chin, on the breast and on the sides 

 with olive-brown." 



The first winter plumage is "acquired by a partial postjuvenal 

 moult, beginning by the end of June, which involves the body plumage, 

 the wing coverts, and rarely the tertiaries, but not the rest of the wings 

 nor the tail. Young and old become practically indistinguishable." 

 This plumage is similar to the well-known adult spring plumage, ex- 

 cept for brownish edgings on the crown, and faint buffy or yellowish 

 tinges on the under parts, the dark stripes being partially veiled with 

 white edgings. 



The first and subsequent nuptial plumages are acquired by wear, 

 which removes the light edgings and brightens the plumage. 



A complete postnuptial molt for both young and old birds occurs 

 in July.] I 



