THE FLICKER. 57 



Enough old feathers remain in the crown to form a covering. 

 With the 6th primary the next pair of tail feathers, the outer 

 rows of ventral tracts, middle wing-coverts. With the 5th 

 primary the next to the outer pair of tail feathers, next to 

 the inner secondary, middle of crown. With the 4th primary 

 the outer tail feathers, inner secondary, lower row of lesser 

 wing-coverts, two outer pairs of upper and under tail-coverts. 

 With the 3rd primary the remaining upper and under tail- 

 coverts, outer rows of dorsal tracts. At this point the plumage 

 assumes a smooth, clean appearance, the new feathers almost 

 completely hiding the old ones. With the 2nd primary the 

 middle tail feathers, outer secondary, and inner tertiary drop. 

 With the 1st primary the remaining inner rows of the abdo- 

 minal tracts and humeral tracts, the remaining lesser wing- 

 coverts, with any other unmolted feathers, are lost, completing 

 the molt. With their renewal the plumage is again complete. 

 The last three primaries — 1st, 2nd and 8rd — are molted in 

 rapid succession, the third one being but half grown when the 

 first one breaks its sheath. The slow molt of the tail is char- 

 acteristic of this order, and is a necessity, as hinted above. 

 As a rule among the small birds the tail feathers are molted 

 practically simultaneously. Almost everywhere over the body 

 some old feathers remain unmolted until the new ones are 

 nearly or quite grown. The old plumage presents a much 

 faded appearance, lacking the marked contrast of the new, and 

 appearing much harsher and coarser, due to the worn tips and 

 edges. At no stage of the molt is there any part of the body 

 entirely bare, nor are the flight feathers molted rapidly enough 

 to hinder flight. During the molt the birds seem to feed 

 largely upon such insects as can be easily caught upon the 

 ground or in the grass, indicating a relatively low state of vital 

 force. As to the time of molt : One of the specimens before 

 me. which has the molt fully half complete, was taken on July 

 5th. Another with the molt complete but with the iir.st pri- 

 mar)' about two thirds grown, was taken on October 17th. 

 This specimen does not seem to be a bird of the j^ear, the 

 other ma}^ be. It is hardlj^ possible that one bird requires all 

 the time from the last week in June to the third week in Octo- 

 ber to complete the molt and renewal. Probably half that 

 time is amply sufficient. 



