195 



Another writer says "the unper tail coverts, which are 

 short in the season of retirement, and the flank feathers towards 

 the hinder end of the body are always moulted out to make room 

 for the long and delicate plumes which often envelope the tail 

 ..... but. undoubtedly, most of the plumage changes in 

 tint day by day until it attains its full brilliance." This (latter) 

 writer admits that the upper tail coverts and hinder flank feathers 

 are moulted out to make room for the new long and delicate 

 plumes. Then why not also the feathers of the body and head? 



It is not only a question of change of colour — but also a change 

 in the length a?id shape of the feathers. 



Take, for example, the Orange Bishop. This Weaver, 

 when in whiter plumage, is feathered similar to a Finch, with the 

 feathers lying almost fiat to the neck. But when in summer or 

 breeding plumage the feathers of the neck are much longer, and 

 stick out in the form of a "ruffle. But the small black feathers 

 of the head, in summer, are shorter than the winter plumage, 

 which applies in the same way to the black feathers (summer) of 

 the lower breast and abdomen. Then there are the long orange 

 plumes of the tail coverts alluded to by the last-mentioned 

 writer. How, then, do we get the longer feathers of the neck and 

 round the tail, and the shorter plush-like feathers of the head and 

 under parts if it is not brought about by a moult ? 



Seeing that the question has been brought up in Editorial 

 Notes, knowing that a friend of mine (Mr. Wallington) had 

 bought an Orange Bishop last year (1907), I decided to ask him 

 to lend me the bird for the purpose of making observations. The 

 bird was purchased from a dealer during the first week in 

 November 1907, and was then in full "summer" plumage. It 

 lost its bright orange and black plumage in March 190S, and 

 donned its so-called "winter" plumage. My friend lent the 

 Weaver to me in the second week of June. Towards the end of 

 July I noticed that it began to lose its sober winter plumage, and 

 found several feathers in its cage. 



On August 5th I caught the Orange Bishop up, and on 

 examining it found a good number of neiv orange- coloured "pen" 

 feathers growing on different parts of the body, — mostly on the 

 flanks, round the tail, and just a lew on the throat. 



