featliers which are replaced by others of a 

 dififerent color. Both processes subserve 

 the same general purpose and result in a 

 seasonal change of color, in the present 

 example, from that of the fall to the nuptial 

 of the spring. The Ptosochromatic change 

 of the spring will not farther be considered 

 here — let it suffice to say that beyond doubt 

 some indigo birds change color in the spring 

 by completely, or nearly so, shedding their 

 feathers. The change not due to such 

 feather loss is what interests us at the pres- 

 ent, and will necessarily be presented far 

 from exhaustively. My remarks are based 

 chiefly upon observations conducted during 

 the fall, winter, and early spring of 1898- 

 99, upon a captive male bird. In view of 

 the color of the plumage of my bird, at the 

 time I took possession of it, it must have 

 been in the adult condition, and as such 

 birds are commonly captured while in the 

 adult state, the difficulty in adapting my 

 bird to his captive condition and the heavy 

 feather loss undoubtedly resulting from this 

 may consequently, be explained. I secured 

 it October 13th, while it was nearing the 

 com'pletion of its fall moult, which by Octo- 

 ber 28th was finished. From that date every 

 cast-off feather was carefully collected and 

 labelled. In order to be sure of obtaining 

 all, a fender was placed about the cage and 

 the room carefully swept at frequent inter- 

 vals. In addition to this I made many ex- 

 aminations of the bird and secured such 

 Bpecimen feathers in a fresh state as I 

 wished for microscopic examination. 



Briefly, the bird was fed mostly upon 

 millet and canary seed, appeared healthy, 

 bathed regularly, and during bright days 

 sang frequently. On March 26th, how- 

 ever, he died after an illness of three 



