8 



The first appearances of a color change 

 were noticed in some of the old feathers 

 of the crown during the first week of 

 February. Here a brightening of the blue 

 area of the feather was noticed but no per- 

 ceptible change of color at the tips where 

 the russet was. From this date till the 

 death of the bird a slow but constant change 

 occurred, chiefly noticeable on the rump, 

 throat, and breast. The first indication of 

 the approach of the change externally was 

 the brightening of the blue portion of the 

 feather, beginning evenly on each vane 

 from the bottom. When the band of tawny 

 was reached, it appeared slowly to be ab- 

 sorbed until but faint tips of this color 

 could be seen upon the ends of the larger 

 barbs. In no cases were the barbs or bar- 

 bules broken off sufiiciently to account for 

 the change. A loss of one-third of the 

 length of the feathers in many cases would 

 have been the result, and close observation 

 did not sustain this in the least. I was en- 

 abled to notice the change in certain breast 

 feathers, which was much more rapid than 

 that of the parrot before referred to. Yet 

 in the latter case the change which gradu- 

 ally causes the yellow plumage is a slow 

 one of life duration, and but few feathers 

 are involved at a time. That of Fasserina 

 cyanea is one of comparatively short dura- 

 tion and involves the greater part of the 

 entire plumage. 



Upon his death the bird presented the 

 following appearance as regards color. An 

 irregular area of brilliant cobalt blue ex- 

 tended from the throat to the belly down 

 the center of the breast, the feathers upon 

 each side graduating gradually to the sides, 

 where but little change had occurred. Head 

 partially changed in parts, inter-scapulars 



