1480 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 part 3 



of neossoptiles is postponed until the first sensu strictro molt, when 

 the juvenal plumage is replaced. 



Dwight (1900) describes the juvenal plumage as follows: "Above, 

 cinnamon-brown, dull chestnut on the crown, streaked with black. 

 No obvious median crown stripe. Superciliary line olive-gray duskily 

 spotted. Wings and tail black, edged largely with chestnut, the 

 wing coverts and tertiaries paler. Below, dull yellowish white washed 

 with deep buff on sides of chin, across jugulum, on sides, flanks and 

 crissum and narrowly streaked with black except on the chin and 

 mid-abdomen. Bill and feet pinkish buff, the former becoming dusky, 

 the latter sepia-brown." This plumage is similar to that of the song 

 sparrow, but darker expecially on the crown, more washed with buff 

 below, and more narrowly streaked with deeper black on the throat. 

 Richard R. Graber (1955) notes that birds of this genus retain the 

 juvenal plumage "for a rather long period by comparison with most 

 migratory passerines." 



The first winter plumage is acquired by a partial postjuvenal molt 

 that starts the end of August and involves the body pumage and wing 

 coverts, but not the flight feathers; G. M. Sutton (1935) says possibly 

 the tail. Dwight (1900) describes this garb as: 



"Above, similar to the previous plumage, the back and the lateral 

 crown stripes showing more chestnut; a grayish nuchal band. Below, 

 unlike previous plumage, grayish white, cinereous on throat obscurely 

 streaked with a darker gray, washed on the flanks and often on the 

 breast with olivaceous wood-brown obscurely streaked or spotted with 

 clove-brown. Rictal and submalar streaks black bordering a grayish 

 or yellow tinged chin. Superciliary line clear olive-gray or yellow 

 tinged; postocular streak black; auriculars bistre." 



E. G. Rowland (1928) made many observations on fall birds prob- 

 ably in their first but some possibly in their second winter plumage, 

 that showed abonormal amounts of yellow coloring (xanthochroma- 

 tism). He summarizes the literature on this peculiar color phase, 

 which was first figured by Baird, Brewer and Ridgway (1874) who 

 named it Passerculus caboti after the collector, Dr. Samuel Cabot, Jr. 

 E. G. Rowland (1925) and L. B. Bishop (1889) also describe melanistic 

 individuals, and J. H. Sage (1913) and A. T. Wayne (1922) describe 

 partial albinos. J. Dwight (1900) continues: 



"First Nuptial Plumage acquired by a partial prenuptial moult 

 which involves chiefly the crown, chin and throat, but not the wings 

 nor the tail. The amount of renewal varies according to individual, 

 and may be quite extensive; a few feathers of most of the body tracts 

 are usually renewed. Early April specimens from the south show the 

 prenuptial moult in progress. The chestnut cap with black forhead, 

 white chin, and clear cinereous gray of the throat, sides of head and 



