THE AUK: 



A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



vol. xvi. October, 1899. No. 4. 



WINTER PLUMAGES:— ILLUSTRATED BY THE ROSE- 

 BREASTED GROSBEAK (ZAMELODIA 

 LUDOVICIANA). 



BY WITMER STONE. 



Plate IV. 



On the accompanying plate Mr. Fuertes has represented the 

 male of the well known Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the plumage 

 of the first winter, a condition often known as the ' bird of the 

 year,' and also the winter plumage of the fully adult bird of two 

 years or more. 



The differences are not very obvious at first sight but will be 

 found to be greater upon more minute examination, though they 

 are probably more striking in the specimens themselves than in a 

 plate where the figures are necessarily reduced. 



Corresponding differences are exhibited by young and old 

 winter specimens of a number of our common birds, and the sub- 

 ject is one of considerable interest. 



In April, 1896, the writer published a paper on the ' Molting of 

 Birds," in which the seasonal plumages were tabulated, and in the 

 last number of ' The Auk ' Dr. Dwight has published a scheme 

 identical with the above except that he proposes the term 

 ' Juvenal ' for what was formerly known as the ' First Plumage ' ; 

 and adds an earlier stage, the ' Natal Down ' which was not con- 

 sidered in the former paper. 



