176 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. ix. 



Snow-Fench [MontifringiUa n. nivalis). 



Adults. — Complete moult in autumn. Some feathers of 

 the throat are renewed in March, otherwise there is no moult 

 in spring. Abrasion makes the throat blacker, the head of 

 the male purer bluish-grey and has other small effects. The 

 female has the head browner than the male and the black of 

 the throat less extensive, also the white of the primary-coverts 

 and of the pair of tail-feathers next the central much more 

 restricted. 



Juvenile. — Much like the adult female but the upper-parts 

 browner, throat ashy-grey with only the bases of the feathers 

 blackish, the tenth primary and A\'hite secondaries with black 

 marks and a fringe of pale buff, and the tail-feathers \\ith 

 a fringe of buff. Sexes apparently alike. 



First winter. — The juvenile ])lumage is completely moulted 

 in the first autumn. The birds then become like the adults. 



House-Sparrow (Passer d. domesticus). 



Adults. — Complete moult from August to October. No 

 moult in spring. The effect of abrasion and the difference 

 in the sexes is too well known to require comment. 



Juvenile. — Very much like the adult female. In the male 

 the throat is more decidedly tinged with ashy-black than in 

 the female. 



First winter and summer. — The juvenile ])lumage is 

 completely moulted in the first autumn. The birtls then 

 become like the adults, except that the male appears to have 

 more white on the ti^xs of the feathers of the chin than the 

 adult male. 



Tree-Sparrow (Passer m. montamis). 



Adults. — Complete moult from August to October. Xo 

 moult in spring, and abrasion causes little noticeable alteration. 

 Sexes alike. 



JuvENiLE.^ — Much like the adult ])ut duller, the feathers 

 of the crown being smoky-brown with blackish tips, the 

 mantle and wing-coverts less rufous, the throat, lores and 

 ear-coverts more greyish-black and other small differences. 



First winter. — The juvenile plumage is completely moulted 

 in the first autumn. The birds then become like the adults. 



{To he continued.) 



