4 



days, before which he was as lively as ever. 

 Examination showed constipation to be the 

 probable cause of his untimely death. The 

 color change had progressed excellently 

 however, and but little additional informa- 

 tion could have been gained had he lived, 

 excepting the period of time occupied by 

 the entire change. Data is present in suf- 

 ficient quantity, nevertheless, to enable me 

 to state the time occupied by the change in 

 certain portions of the plumage. 



The appearance of my bird as regards 

 color, October 28th, was as follows : Feathers 

 of the head and breast slightly tinged with 

 cobalt, the chief color of the feathers being 

 dull rusty. The breast thus was somewhat 

 mottled in appearance. Back rusty, the 

 concealed centers bluish. Primaries and 

 rectrices blackish with blue edges. Second- 

 aries and coverts broadly edged with rust 

 color. Lower abdomen bufly, ventral area 

 whitish. 



From October 28th till January 28th I 

 observed no marked color change, but from 

 February until the bird's death, it was very 

 noticeable. A curious and undoubtedly un- 

 normal process intervened however, and in 

 order to understand this comprehensively I 

 will tabulate the feather loss beginning with 

 the first feather shed after October 28th, 

 when it will be recollected that the bird 

 had completed its moult. 



11-24, 20 



