VOL Tx.| MOULTS OF BRITISH PASSERES. 171 



Juvenile. — The juvenile is still browner and more streaked 

 on the upper-parts than the adult female, the difference being 

 very marked on the rump and upper tail-coverts, which are 

 buffish-brown instead of yellowish -green ; the under-parts are 

 browner and more streaked and there is only a tinge of yellow 

 on the belly ; the innermost secondaries and all the wing- 

 coverts are fringed and tipped with pale buff instead of green ; 

 the fringes of the tail- and wing-feathers and primary-coverts 

 are more buff and less green. Sexes apparently alike. 



First winter and summer. — The juvenile plumage is 

 moulted as in the Greenfinch, after which the male can be 

 distinguished from the adult male by its browner and more 

 streaked mantle. The tail-, wing-feathers and primary- 

 coverts being the same as in the juvenile, have the fringes less 

 green and more bufifish. Usually also one or two juvenile 

 greater coverts with pale buff fringes remain and occasionally 

 a juvenile buff -edged innermost secondary. 



Linnet {Carduelis c. cannabina). 



Adult. — Complete moult from August to October. No 

 moult in spring, but in the male especially abrasion greatly 

 alters the ap]5earance, which varies according to the amount 

 of wear. In much worn summer males the mantle, scapulars, 

 and wing-coverts become almost uniform chestnut, the 

 blackish-brown streaks and buff edges of the feathers having 

 worn off, the flanks become almost uniform chestnut-buff 

 and the crimson on the crown and breast, which in fresh 

 plumage is almost concealed by the buff tips to the feathers, 

 becomes prominent. Moreover, the more worn the feather is 

 the more brilliant the crimson becomes. The reason for this 

 has been frequently explained and it is only necessary to say 

 here briefly that in Redpolls, Linnets, Crossbills and Grosbeaks 

 not only the tips and edges of the feathers wear down, but the 

 radii also wear off and leave the rami more or less bare. The 

 rami only are pink and the radii grey, so that the wearing off 

 of the latter makes the pink appear much more brilliant. 

 The female has no pink and is darker and less chestnut on 

 the mantle and more heavilj- streaked than the male. 



Juvenile. — Much like the female, but with the chin and 

 throat almost uniform bufflsh-white without decided dark 

 streaks. The streaks on the upper-parts, breast and flanks, 

 are also much narrower than in the adult female. The male 

 even in juvenile i^lumage is more chestnut-buff on the upper- 

 parts than the juvenile female. 



First winter. — The juvenile plumage is moulted as in the 

 Greenfinch and the birds become like the adults. 



