120 Brewster's Descriptions of the First Plumage 



but also the sides thickly marked in a similar manner. In view of 

 this fact, the further development of the young is most interesting. 

 When the autumnal plumage is acquired, the dusky Btreakings upon the 

 sides of the breast are entirely lost, and do not again appear until after the 

 spring moult, when, as previously stated, they are distributed over much 

 larger areas. A nearly analogous case of development is afforded by the 

 Arctic and Wilson's Terns, whose young have the bill and feet at first pale 

 red or yellow, afterwards dusky or nearly black, and again, when fully 

 adult, deeper and clearer red than when first from the nest. 



65. Melospiza palustris. 



First plumage : female. Crown blackish, each feather obscurely tipped 

 with lighter. Rest of upper parts reddish-brown, every leather streaked 

 centrally with dull black. Beneath dull ferruginous-brown, fading to 

 soiled white on the abdomen, streaked thickly but narrowly with dull 

 black everywhere excepting on the abdomen. Sides of head dusky, with 

 irregular patches of dark brown. No appreciable ashy anywhere. From 

 a specimen in my collection taken at Cambridge, Mass., June 24, 1872. 

 Specimens in first plumage show considerable variation in the amount of 

 streaking beneath. Some are so faintly marked that at a little distance 

 they appear entirely plain. They may be at once distinguished from ex- 

 amples of M. melodia in corresponding plumage by the much darker cast 

 of the upper surface (especially of the crown) and by the finer character of 

 the markings beneath. 



66. Melospiza melodia. 



First plumage : male. Above similar to the adult, but with the crown 

 less rufous, and the markings of the feathers upon the interscapular region 

 decidedly darker. The sides of the head are also more huffy and the 

 markings fainter. Beneath light yellowish-brown, streaked and spotted 

 everywhere, excepting upon the throat and abdomen, with dusky brown, 

 of a much lighter and duller cast than in the adult. From a specimen in 

 my collection shot at Cambridge, Mass., June 24, 1872. 



67. Junco hyemalis. 

 First plumage : male. Upper parts dark brown, everywhere suffused 

 with ashy, but most appreciably bo upon the top and sides of head ; every 

 feather marked obscurely with dull black. Greater and middle coverts 

 tipped with reddish-brown, producing two rather indistinct wing-bands. 

 Throat, and breast anteriorly, ferruginous-ashy, nearly obscured by 

 Btreakings of dull black. Rest of under parte dull ashy-white, with a 

 faint bully tinge, spotted everywhere excepting on the abdomen with 

 dusky. Crissum pale fulvous. From a specimen in my cabinet collected 

 at Upton, Me., August 25, 1874. Considerable variation is exhibited by 

 ;ies of specimens in ant plumage before me. Some have the upper 



