THE CHAFFINCH. 93 



individually), next pair sometimes with, but often without, white 

 mark on tip of inner web ; primaries and secondaries broun -black, 

 fringed on outer webs greenish-yellow, and on iimer white and 

 with basal portions yellowish-\\'hite, showing as narrow band 

 below coverts except in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th primaries, which have 

 no white at base of outer webs, two innermost secondaries without 

 white and fringed greenish -buff ; greater coverts black, fringed and 

 broadly tipped yellowish-white; median and lower lesser coverts 

 white ; remaining lesser coverts blue-grey marked black. This plum- 

 age is acquired by complete moult commencing July and sometimes 

 June. Summer. — ^No moult, but featl\ers here and there on 

 body often renewed in spring. By abrasion (varying individually) 

 fore-head becomes black, cro\\'n and neck pure grey -blue, mantle 

 more chestnut, tips of greater coverts smaller and purer white, 

 and greenish -buff edges of inner secondaries wear off. 



Adult female. Winter. — ^Fore-head, croMH, nape, and mantle 

 yellowish-bro\Mi, more greyish-bro\vn on centre of crowTi and 

 nape ; back and rump yellowish-green ; upper tail-coverts yellowish- 

 bro^Mi ; ear-coverts, sides of neck, and flanks greyish-broAxn ; breast 

 same, but paler and often tinged pinkish ; chin, centre of tliroat, 

 belly, and under tail-coverts paler whitish-grey, tinged bro\Mi ; 

 tail and wings as in male but browner, and white not so pure ; 

 lesser and median coverts less white and greater coverts more 

 buff. Summer. — No moult but occasional feathers renewed as 

 in male. By abrasion, crown and nape become more slate-grey, 

 less brown, and under-parts greyer, less brownish (some individuals 

 show considerable amount of brownish -pink on breast). 



Nestling. — Down, greyish ; distribution, inner and outer 

 supra-orbital, occipital, humeral, spinal, ulnar, femoral, ventral, 

 and crural. Mouth, inside violet-red, but hard palate orange, 

 no tongue-spots, externally flanges white (C. B. Ticehurst, 

 Brit. B., II, p. 192). 



Juvenile. — Much resembling adult female in winter but with 

 greyish-white nuchal spot ; back brown, not green ; rump brownish- 

 green ; imder-parts paler and tinged yellowish rather than brownish. 

 Male differs from female in having mantle tinged chestnut-brown, 

 ear-coverts buff, less yeUowish-brown, tail-feathers and primaries 

 and secondaries as in adult, wing-coverts whiter. 



First winter. Male and female. — Like adults. The juvenile 

 body-feathers and wing-coverts are completely moulted in July 

 to Sept., but not remiges, primary-coverts, and rectrices. 



Measurements and structure. — (^ wing 82-90 mm., tail 57-65, 

 tarsus 14-18, bill from skull 13-15 (12 measured). $ wing 78-85. 

 Primaries : 1st minute, 3rd and 4th equal and longest, 5th generally 

 a shade shorter, 2nd 3-4 mm. shorter, 6th 5-7 shorter ; 3rd to 

 6th emarginated outer webs. Secondaries equal 10th primary, tips 

 square, slightly notched. Tail sUghtly forked. Bill thick, tapering 

 to sharp point. A few short nasal and rictal bristles. 



