58 THE FUCKER. 



My series of adult birds relates more to the renewal than 

 to the earlier stages of the molt, and in nearly every particular 

 attest to the correctness of the sequence revealed bj^ Prof. 

 Jones' minute examination. The middle rectrices grow more 

 slowly than the first, second and third primaries, which are 

 .shed almost simultaneously and grow rapidly. Three .speci- 

 mens taken on September 26th, two on October ord and one 

 October 10th — all at Berwyn, Penna. — show the middle feath- 

 ers from half grown to almost equal to next pair, while the 

 primaries are complete, although the last sheath has not always 

 disappeared. Of two Georgia specimens taken September 10th, 

 the fir.st shows the ord primary three-quarters, the 2nd two- 

 thirds grown and the 1st not shed, central tail-feathers dropped 

 and pin feathers on chin and throat ; the other shows the 3rd 

 primary four-fifths, the 2nd and 1st one-half grown, middle 

 pair tail feathers one-half grown, al.so pin feathers in malar 

 and chin. A June 10th specimen from the same locality, varies 

 in having the outer rectrices one-fourth and four-fifths grown, 

 otherwise apparently complete renewal. This bird must .surel}^ 

 have remained unmated or lost its mate early in the season, 

 otherwise it could scarcely have been in so line a dress at that 

 date. Another peculiar state is represented by a hybrid from 

 Santa Cruz, California, September 3rd, with the 3rd primary 

 one-half, outer secondary three-fourths grown at the same 

 time, next to middle pair of tail feathers molted, malar and 

 forehead just renewed. Apparently the feathers about the 

 head and throat begin to drop early but new feathers develop 

 slowl3\ The central rectrices are the last important feathers 

 to attain their growth. 



The juvenile Flicker molts and renews its entire plumage 

 the first year in common with all Woodpeckers, which are 

 numbered with the few groups among the Al trices doing so. 

 It varies little if at all from the adult. Seven Georgia birds 

 but a few weeks at most out of ne.sts, taken between June 28th 

 and July 18th, are in various stages of molt and renewal ; the 

 red cap often confined to the forehead. A bird taken July 

 lOtli had commenced to molt on nape, malar, breast and rump, 

 the 6th primary almost complete, top of head renewed except 

 forehead, a pair of new feathers of the autumnal dress had 

 appeared on either side of the breast, and all signs of the red 



