284 FRUTICICOLA RUBICOLA. 



when they were very young come out from under a bush to be 

 fed by the old ones, and then immediately retire to their con- 

 cealment. Their eggs are sometimes destroyed by mice." 



Young, — The young when fully fledged have the bill dusky 

 above, light-brown beneath ; the feet greyish-brown. The 

 upper parts are brown, the head darker, each feather with a 

 linear central light greyish-yellow mark ; the back mottled 

 with larger spots of the same, edged with dusky, the tail- 

 coverts brownish-red ; the quills and tail-feathers brownish- 

 black, edged with brownish- red, the first and second quills and 

 the outer tail-feather edged with brownish-white ; the secon- 

 dary coverts are broadly tipped with light-red, and a few of the 

 inner are more or less white. The sides of the head are dusky, 

 mottled with brown ; the throat greyish ; the lower parts light 

 yellowish-brown; the fore part of the neck and breast mottled 

 with dusky. 



Progress toward Maturity. — The young acquire the full 

 plumage of the adults at their first moult in the end of autumn. 



