468 



BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



gray (pallid neutral gray, sometimes approaching pale neutral gray), 

 the outer web of outermost primary darker gray ; inner webs of prima- 

 ries with a deep or dark gray broad stripe next to shaft, this dark 

 gray continued across tips and for some distance along inner edge, 

 the remainder white; tail grayish white, more or less tinged with pale 

 gray; bUl orange or reddish orange; iris dark brown; legs and feet 

 black. 



Adults in post-nuptial plumage.^ — Similar to the above but whole 

 forehead and fore part of crown white, only the occipital crest, nape, 

 and posterior portion of crown being black. 



Adults in winter. — Similar to the post-nuptialC?) plumage, but 

 black of occiput and nape also intermixed, more or less, with white, 

 and bill paler orange. 



Young. — Somewhat hke winter adults, but upper parts sparsely 

 spotted with dusky grayish brown, these spots largest on tertials; 

 rectrices deep gra37ish brown or dusky sub terminally ; pileum speckled 

 or flecked with white or dusky, the occipital crest but slightly de- 

 veloped. 



Doumy young. — Pale creamy buff, fading into white on chest, 

 breast, and abdomen; upper parts streaked or irregularly flecked 

 with black; bill pale yellowish or dull ivory whitish, more horn colored 

 at tip ; legs and feet grayish. 



Adult male.— Wing, 360-382 (371); tail, 147.5-192 (171.9); exposed 

 culmen, 59-68 (64.1); tarsus, 29.5-34.5 (31.8); middle toe, 25-28 

 (26.8)^ 



Adult female.— Wing, 357-393 (374); tail, 130-196.5 (167.5); ex- 

 posed culmen, 57.5-67 (62.7); tarsus, 30-34.5 (32.6); middle toe, 

 24.5-28.5 (27.1).^ 



« This species, sometimes at least, breeds in tMs plumage, which indeed, may be 

 the true breeding plumage. A colony of several thousand pairs which I found breed- 

 ing (the eggs freshly laid) on Cobbs Island, Virginia, early in July, 1880, consisted of 

 birds which were all, so far as could be determined, with white forehead and fore crown. 



b Ten specimens. 



c Eighteen specimens. 



