VOL. VII.] PLUMAGES OF THE ROOK. 137 



then the rump, back, flanks, breast and neck, and lastly 

 the head, by which time the first primary, which is the 

 last to moult, is growing and the bastard-wing is 

 moulting. The moult of the primaries thus extends 

 over some four or five months. The tail-feathers moult 

 from the centre outwards on each side, while the order 

 of the moult in the secondaries, though not invariably 

 regular, is almost always in three groups, the first 

 moulting first and being followed by the second, third, 

 fourth, and fifth ; the seventh is moulted before the 

 sixth ; and the eighth, ninth, and tenth are moulted 

 in the order named at the same time as the first group 

 is being moulted. 



Like that of the first winter, but with the nasal region, fore-head, 

 lores, under the eyes and sides of the lower mandible at its base 

 practically bare of feathers, the skin being whitish and covered with 

 short rounded "pins" or "knobs" ; chin and tipper-throat covered 

 with mouse-brown " down " ; tail like that of first winter but 

 more glossed with greenish-purple ; primaries and secondaries under- 

 neath deep black not brownish-black as in first winter : above, the 

 primaries with a purplish-green gloss on the outer webs and a 

 considerable amount on the inner webs, secondaries with a rich purple 

 gloss on the outer webs and a greenish gloss on the inner webs ; 

 primary-coverts glossed with purplish-green ; greater-coverts glossed 

 with purple on the outer webs and purplish green on the inner ; rest 

 of the plumage like that of first winter. 



Second Summer-plumage. — ^Acquired by abrasion only, 

 there being no moult at all. The down on the chin is 

 gradually worn away during the winter until by January 

 (and in some individuals before) this region is practically 

 bare except for the aborted " pins " and small pieces 

 of " down " here and there and remains of filoplumes. 

 From May until the following moult, the " down " and 

 filoplumes are so worn down that their remains can 

 scarcely be seen without the aid of a glass. The filo- 

 plumes and a few degenerate bristles in the nostril region 

 also become gradually worn down. 



The rest of the plumage becomes duller and browner, 

 some of the gloss being lost by abrasion, especially 

 on the wings and tail, but these never become so brown 

 as in first summer. 



