462 BULLETIN 15 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



4. First nuptial plumage acquired chiefly by wear. Similar to 

 first winter plumage but the remiges and rectrices are darker and the 

 entire upper parts more streaked with blackish; bill red. 



5. Adult winter plumage acquired by a complete postnuptial molt. 

 Similar to first nuptial plumage, but the upperparts more heavily 

 streaked with black; the remiges and rectrices dark fuscous-black, 

 margined with tawny; bill red. Birds in this plumage may be told 

 from individuals in first nuptial plumage by the darker remiges and 

 rectrices which are Tiew, not worn. 



6. Adult nuptial plumage acquired by a partial molt involving 

 feathers of the head, body, and tail, but not the remiges. Ahove: 

 Head, scapulars, interscapulars, and back black slightly glossed 

 with greenish : nuchal collar white ; lower back and rump white, the 

 feathers with blackish shaft stripes; lesser and middle wing coverts 

 white forming a large white patch; greater coverts, primaries, and 

 secondaries black, some of the inner secondaries with remnants of the 

 tawny edges of the adult winter plumage; tail feathers black, the 

 four central ones greatly elongated and wholly black, the other rec- 

 trices tipped with tawny, the inner webs very broadly margined with 

 white; sides of head white; the lores black, the black sometimes 

 extending in small specks onto the cheeks. Below: Chin white, 

 sometimes with a black spot, throat, breast, abdomen, flanks, thighs, 

 and under tail-coverts whitish, the sides of the throat black forming 

 a distinct gorget on either side ; bill red. 



FEMALE 



1. Natal down. Same as male. 



2. Juvenal plumage acquired by complete postnatal molt. Same as 

 male. 



3. First winter plumage acquired by a partial molt as in male. 

 Same as male. 



4. First nuptial plumage acquired by wear. Same as male; bill 

 reddish. 



5. Adult winter plumage acquired by complete postnuptial molt. 

 Similar to young male in first nuptial plumage ; bill red, 



6. Adult nuptial plumage acquired by wear ; bill changes from red 

 to dark brown. Similar to adult winter plumage, except that the bill 

 is dark brown. 



The females are very similar to those of Vidua hyyocherina but 

 may be distinguished from the latter by the fact that iixacroura has 

 narrow white margins on the inner webs of the primaries, while 

 Kypocherina has broad ones. 



The young of the two are also quite similar but may be told apart 

 by the following characters : 



