306 Stone, Winter Pltimages. [£" t k 



In both the articles referred to, attention is called to the differ- 

 ence in the winter plumages of birds, due to age. Some species 

 also exhibit corresponding differences in the spring or nuptial 

 plumage, but this is not so common. 



The most interesting point in connection with these winter 

 plumages is the apparent scarcity of adult birds during the fall 

 migration. This has frequently been noticed, especially by Mr. 

 C. W. Beckham, 1 and has been generally considered to be due 

 to the earlier migration of the old birds and the probability that 

 they travel more rapidly or with fewer stops. 



In the case of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, I examined the fall 

 specimens in the collections of the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 of Philadelphia, the American Museum of Natural History, the 

 U. S. National Museum, and the private collections of Mr. 

 William Brewster and several others, and while birds in the ' First 

 Winter' plumage were abundant I found only two 2 in the 'Adult 

 Winter ' plumage. 



The scarcity of these adult specimens has caused a difference 

 of opinion as to the character of the adult winter plumage of 

 several species, and even to-day authorities are divided upon the 

 question of the winter plumage of so familiar a species as the 

 Black-bellied Plover {Squatarola squatarola} , some claiming that 

 the adults are nearly identical with the first year birds in winter, 

 while others state that they are always more or less black beneath, 

 as in spring. 



Such black-bellied specimens are certainly taken in fall but they 

 are rare and are regarded by the former of the above ' schools ' as 

 exceptional plumages ! 



The Rose-breasted Grosbeak exhibits about as great a variety 

 of plumages as is to be found among our passerine birds. It 

 seems to molt regularly twice a year, though the spring molt is 

 usually confined to the body plumage. 



The adult in winter as shown in the plate differs from the ' First 

 Winter ' plumage in the greater amount of black above and rose 



1 Auk, 1887, p. 79. 



2 Three others in this plumage were examined, taken in winter south of the 

 United States. 



