1 ^4 Campbell, The Moult of the Blue Wren. |_j^j "J",, 



Now, the time spent in the brown stage is sometimes so short, 

 and the change from one to the other is often so irregular, that 

 this may appear correct. But the same bird cannot be seen 

 blue all the year. 



In an isolated suburban garden I have, for two years, had the 

 opportunity of observing what I have little doubt is one family. 

 From my note-book I take the following : — " Burnley. — Male 

 Wren moulting, Mar., '04 ; remoulting, first week July. Moulting 

 Mar., '05 ; remoulting, first week in June. The change takes 

 about a fortnight, and the bird remains as much in hiding as 

 possible during that time. The moult begins with the ear 

 coverts, and when complete the male is only distinguished from 

 the female by the absence of rufous colour about lobes and eyes, 

 by its black beak, darker legs, and particularly by the blue tail." 



This moult is a complete changing of feathers, and is not a 

 mere alteration of pigment. 



A female Flame-breasted Robin, when it first arrives in 

 winter, is very dark in the plumage, but in two weeks' time it is 

 considerably lighter. The pigment has faded* to suit more open 

 surroundings than those in the forest from which the bird has 

 come. So, too, with some birds having barred or streaked 

 feathers, youth is characterized by the dulness and indistinct- 

 ness of these markings. But the bands or streaks on each 

 feather gradually become more distinct without any moult. The 

 dark bands become darker and narrower by a concentration of 

 pigment, and the light parts become whiter, and often larger, by 

 a disappearance of colouring matter. 



I hold, too, in connection with the Blue Wren, that it is not 

 polygamous. Certainly there are often seen several brown ones 

 with each male bird, but these are lonely spinsters, or possibly 

 young birds, that follow him about for company. In parts 

 where males are very common this is not noticed. The 

 mature blue bird has the experience that can find the food 

 supply, scent danger, and ward off enemies. 



But this and other matters in connection with this brilliant 

 genus are awaiting more enlightenment. I think that my 

 friend's note breathes the true observer's spirit. We want more 

 of this sort of thing. We know sufficient for the present of 

 relationships of species and their eggs, and other structuralities. 

 We want to get at individualities, at the inner circle of the bird's 

 existence. To do that we must come away from our pedestal as 

 humans civilized, and descend (or ascend) to a level where we 

 can recognize the bird's (and our own) part in the one great 

 scheme of creation. We must live with the birds, and observe 

 them on their own terms as natural citizens, not on ours. This 



* This supports the theory of many modern zoologists that loss of colour is largely 

 due to attrition — the wearing away of the outer scales of the feathers. — Eds. 



