108 Rhoads, Notes on Western Pennsylvania Birds. I Oct. 



distinct winter plumage, and that in young birds at least, the 

 wing quills are apparently molted in spring ! 



I need only say that the lower figure of our plate, which repre- 

 sents the adult winter plumage, and which is evidently the condition 

 described by Dr. Sharpe as showing the expansion of the pink, 

 was drawn from a bird secured in Illinois, Sept. 187 1, far north 

 of its winter quarters, while another in Mr. Brewster's collection, 

 taken in Oxford Co., Maine, Aug. 20, is actually in the midst of 

 the molt from the brown-winged pink and white ' First Nuptial ' 

 plumage to the adult winter plumage here figured. 



This clearly illustrates the lack of accuracy with which seasonal 

 plumages are described in our works of reference, and I may say 

 that the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is not alone in this treatment. 



The moral seems to be that in the present advanced condition 

 of American ornithology, when we are splitting hairs in the matter 

 of geographical subspecies, it is high time that each plumage that 

 a bird assumes should be properly understood and described, and 

 more attention given to one of the most interesting branches of 

 ornithological science. 



NOTES ON SOME OF THE RARER BIRDS OF WEST- 

 ERN PENNSYLVANIA. 



By S. N. Rhoads. 



Data for the following observations was secured during sev- 

 eral excursions which I have made in the western half of Penn- 

 sylvania since June 1, 1894. In the main these notes were taken 

 during field work in the interests of the Carnegie Museum of 

 Pittsburgh from April to October, 1898. Some of the most 

 valuable records are based on specimens in the Carnegie Mu- 

 seum, taken by local collectors. I am also indebted to Mr. J. 

 Link of Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh, for the privilege of an 

 examination of rare specimens in his private collection. Mr. 

 Seth Nelson of Round Island, Clinton Co., Mr. M. Larrabee of 



