THE BLACKCAP. 367 



The bod 3'- -feathers, from one to four innermost secondaries and 

 varying number of inner greater coverts are moulted Jan. -March 

 (occasionaUy April) but apparently not rest of wing-coverts and 

 not wing- or tail-feathers. New plumage as winter. In worn 

 plumage upper -parts often become greyer especially rump and upper 

 tail -coverts. 



Adult female. Winter and summer. — Resembling male but 

 whole crown bright red-brown ; rest of upper-parts more olive- 

 brown than male, not tinged with greyish ; nape as rest of upper- 

 parts ; lores, ear -coverts, sides of neck and sides of throat brownish- 

 grey ; breast and flanks pale brown sometimes with greyish tinge 

 but always browner than male ; tail and wings as male. Moults 

 as male and summer plumage as winter, but abrasion makes upper- 

 parts less olive and paler. 



Nestling. — Down absent. Mouth inside bright pink ; two 

 long oval, symmetrical brownish spots at base of tongue ; externally 

 flanges whitish (C. B. Ticehurst, Brit. B., iv, p. 70). 



Juvenile. — Much like adult female but crown in males more 

 blackish -browii, and in females more yellowish-brown ; mantle 

 usually more rusty-brown, not so olive ; edges and tips of wing- 

 coverts more rusty-brown ; breast and flanks considerably darker 

 than adult female, smoky-brown to dull yellowish -brown ; belly 

 dull dirty white ; under tail-coverts and axillaries pale dull buff. 



First winter. Male. — Like adult male and sometimes not to 

 be distinguished from it but usually feathers of crown have brown 

 tips and sometimes crown is a mixture of reddish-brown and black, 

 nape sometimes greyish olive-brown instead of ash-grey. (N.B. — ■ 

 Some undoubted first winter males have jet-black crowns and ash- 

 grey napes, like adults, but I have not seen an undoubted adult with 

 brown in the crown.) The juvenile body-feathers and wing-coverts 

 (usuaUy outermost greater coverts are not moulted) are moulted 

 June-Sept., but not primary -co verts, wing- or tail-feathers. 

 Summer. — Moult as adult, after which becomes like adult but 

 sometimes has some browii on crown. 



First winter. Female. — Not to be distinguished from adult. 

 Moults as first winter male. 



Measiirements and structure. — <^ wing 70-78 mm., tail 57-64, 

 tarsus 21-23, bill from skull 12-14 (12 measured). $ wing 69-80. 

 Primaries : 1st 1-6 mm. longer than longest primary-covert, 3rd 

 longest, 4th usually as long but occasionally 1 mm. shorter, 2nd 

 4-7 shorter, 5th 1-4 shorter, 6th 5-9 shorter ; 3rd to 5th emarginated 

 outer webs. Secondaries 3-5 mm. shorter than 10th primary, 

 tips rather square. Tail fairly square, but outermost pair rather 

 shorter than rest, 12 feathers, tips pointed. Bill rather flat and 

 broad at base, pointed at tip. A good many small, fine rictal 

 and nasal bristles. Nostrils not covered by feathers. 



Soft parts. — Bill slatish-black to brownish -black, under mandible 

 slate ; legs and feet dark slate ; iris brown. 



