378 Messrs. W. E. Clarke and J. Backhouse — Autumn 



younger specimens show a tendency to have the brownish 

 grey replaced by an approach to the orange-brown of summer 

 plumage. The underparts, in tint, resemble generally the 

 summer plumage, the chief difference being the presence of 

 a few black feathers on the chin and a greater prepon- 

 derance of white on the abdomen. In one or two of our 

 specimens the white plumage of winter shows itself on the 

 throat. 



The specimen figured (Plate IX.) was obtained on the 

 Fljotsdals hei^i, at an elevation of 2500 feet, on the 23rd of 

 September, 1884, and is in Backhouse^s collection. 



Adult female. Upper parts. — As compared with a specimen 

 shot in Iceland on the 4th of July, 1858, our specimens (five 

 in number) differ in having the feathers of the" hind neck 

 barred with black and buff, whilst in the July specimen the 

 neck and head very much resemble the back, and are boldly 

 blotched and barred with pale cinnamon-brown and black. 



Under surface. — The barring on the chin more or less 

 obscured by the white of winter plumage. The neck and 

 upper breast barred creamy white and black. Breast and 

 abdomen white. A few of the cinnamon and black feathers 

 of summer still show on the flanks, and one or two on the 

 abdomen, but are very loose and readily become detached if 

 handled. The mandibular portion of the black transocular 

 patch is more or less pronounced. The tail tipped with 

 white. The barred throat is the chief characteristic of the 

 adult female. 



Birds of the year. The twelve males and females of our 

 series make it clear that the sexes are practically alike, both 

 resembling the mother bird in having the neck both before 

 and behind barred with buff and brownish black. They 

 appear to be further advanced towards winter plumage on 

 both surfaces than the adult birds, that is to say, there is a 

 greater admixture of j)ure white with the coloured feathers. 

 The back-feathers, especially the scapulars, are brownish 

 black with lateral bars of pale orange-buflF, not quite reaching 

 the centre of the feather. Forehead chiefly white, with a 

 few coloured feathers. Tail black, broadly tipped with white. 



