PIED WAGTAIL. 165 
In the young the bill is dusky, the edges partly yellowish. 
There is a narrow lght grey or yellowish white streak over 
the front of the forehead ; ihead behind and crown, grey, darker 
than the back; neck, in the front and on the sides, greyish 
white. The throat has a dusky line down each side, forming 
a curved band in the front; the white of the breast is obscured 
with grey and yellowish hewn and the crescent is but obscurely 
indicated: sides, light grey; the back is dull grey, in some 
specimens tinged with green. Greater and lesser w ing coverts, 
blackish brown, edged with greyish white, making two bands; 
primaries and secondaries, larger and lesser under wing coverts, 
greyish brown, tipped with whitish. The tail has the middle 
feathers blackish brown, the rest darker, the two side ones 
nearly all white; upper taii coverts, grey, darker than the 
back. Legs ad toes, brownish; the feathers on the former 
are grey ish brown, edged with whitish. 
After the autumnal moult the colours become more distinct; 
the head is still grey, the crescent on the breast is black, 
and the back is grey as the head. 
A. E. Knox, Esq. says, “These birds moult soon, having 
completed the change at ‘the end of J uly, or early in August. 
The black feathers gradually; disappear from the throat in 
both sexes, and the dorsal plumage becomes of a lighter colour 
in each; the back of the male assuming the grey of the 
female during the breeding season; while that of the female, 
and the young of the year in both sexes, changes to a very 
light grey. Indeed, between the two latter, there is no ex- 
ternal difference of appearance.” This moult is completed at 
various periods, from the end of August to the end of 
October; the difference being, doubtless, the consequence of 
there having been one or two broods. In the spring there 
is another moult, which commences in February, and is com- 
pleted by the middle of April. ‘The throat first changes, 
then the head, back of the neck, sides, back, and breast, in 
succession ; but the quill feathers of the wing and of ‘the 
tail are not changed. 
Albino individuals have been met with, and there is often 
some yellow on the lower part of the breast. 
