Notes on Plumage Changes. 13 



have a conspicuous chest patch of red, with frontal patch and 

 abdominal area white, while a third has only a flush of red, and 

 that upon its throat, with frontal mark brown and white. Al- 

 though two stages of Phase D may be no older than any stage in 

 Phase C, and both having the same time removal from Phase B, 

 I place them under different heads because of the red in D that is 

 not in C. The third case just referred to is placed with D on 

 account of the oi'ange-red throat and brown chest. Phase E is a 

 most interesting one. A week earlier in its career it would have 

 been placed with C, but being now in a state of metamorphosis, 

 conspicuous with contrast of feathers, it stands apart from all 

 others. The breast, back and wings show most of their plumage 

 to be of the early stage, but bright red is appearing through the 

 breast feathers, and jet black quills are maturing in the wings, 

 while the tail has dropped its brown quills before the " blacks " 

 are ready to serve their purpose. The examples of Phase F show 

 the first clear light red of most of the under surface after the 

 moult of " brown," one a deeper red than the other. Phase G is 

 the stage figured by John Gould, ^ and generally looked upon as 

 the adult. Tt is described as such by Dr. Sharpe.'* Phase H is 

 the fully matured bird. Its red is intense, and but for the 

 developed forehead it would lead one to believe it to be a case of 

 erythrism. Phase J appears to be the same age as H. Its value 

 lies in tlie moult being clearly shown, and the process of replen- 

 ishing both quill and contour featliers. 



F/zase B. 



Young c?, sk., 19-11-97. Heytesbury, Victoria. (Per Mr. 

 George Graham). 



It has recently left the nest and has its wings and breast 

 colours more intensified than in the stages slightly older. The 

 whole of the upper brown surface shows the streaked feather 

 so characteristic of the nestling, the whole length of the rachis 

 of each feather being whitened ; frontal mark, white ; wings, 

 deep brown with a tawny band across each, and tawny edgings 

 to secondaries and coverts ; tail, deep brown, except outer 



1 Birds of Australia, vol. iii., pi. 6. 

 ■i Brit. Miis. Cnt. Birds, vol. iv 



