^°\ 02'^! D\y^GWX:, Variations of the American Goldfitich. ^S7 



greater number of old feathers retained makes them appear darker 

 and browner than eastern tristis. The less faded sides also en- 

 hance the dark effect. A large series of both sexes shows this 

 clearly, and on account of the preponderance of old feathers in 

 females they suffer far more from wear than do females of tristis. 

 Both males and females of salicamans therefore usually become 

 more worn than tristis in summer or breeding dress ; and further- 

 more, in comparing specimens, allowance must be made for the 

 earlier acquisition of this plumage in salica7nans. Consequently 

 a series of salicamans taken late in May are comparable to July 

 or August birds from the East. The prenuptial moult in each 

 form is practically completed a couple of months earlier than 

 these respective dates, although the moult lags in the California 

 bird, as it is wont to do in birds of a warm climate. There seems 

 to be no real difference in the yellow of the two races except that 

 possibly on an average there is a shade more of depth in salica- 

 mans, just as there is a yellower tone in other plumages. It is 

 salicamans that has the yellower and tristis the greener tinge 

 when perceptible, but the shade of difference is so slight and 

 so inconstant that only in large series is it possible to recognize 

 it. The black cap in salicamans seems to average smaller and 

 is more variable in extent. Two specimens have only a few black 

 feathers, the rest of the head being yellow, a condition not con- 

 tingent on the extent of the moult, which evidently has been fairly 

 complete. No tristis approaches these birds, although the black 

 cap is diminished in size through wear. 



I have seen no specimens oi pallidus in first nuptial dress. 



5. Second Winter Plumage. — Both sexes in all forms of the 

 Goldfinch undergo a complete postnuptial moult which in tristis 

 occurs in September or October. The first signs may appear in 

 males as early as the second week in September, and it is usually 

 completed by the middle of October or first of November. The 

 whole plumage averages richer in color than that of the first winter, 

 with a yellower suffusion, especially of the head and rump, the 

 browns are deeper, and the wings and tail blacker. The outer 

 greater coverts are whiter and the white spot at the base of the 

 primaries, if present at all, is much reduced, not showing beyond 

 the primary coverts. But the only constant differential plumage 



