I C 2 Loomis on Plumage of Some South Carolina Birds. I April 



inal bar of black on the tail. In another adult female, Dec. 19, 

 1S78, this is wanting, a few isolated spots and faint traces being 

 the only indications of it. It may be questioned whether this 

 subterminal marking is simply individual, or whether it is an 

 indication of immaturity. 



Ceryle alcyon. — In a female taken Dec. 13, 1877, the rufous 

 abdominal belt is complete. This is also the case in eleven spec- 

 imens in the American Museum obtained at various seasons. 



Ceophloeus pileatus. — A male, shot Oct. 11, 1886, exhibits 

 a tendency to extension of the red of the head to the broad white 

 stripe on its sides, there being a dash of this color below the eyes 

 and backward. 



Antrostomus vociferus. — The absolute necessity of deter- 

 mining the sex by dissection is strikingly exemplified in a female 

 of this species (April 14, 1SS8), which has the throat bar chiefly 

 pure white. It is much narrower than is usual in the male. 

 The other markings are not exceptional. There is a nearly simi- 

 lar specimen in the American Museum collection from New 

 York, procured May 31, 18S3. 



Calcarius pictus. — A female, Feb. 9, 1S89, has the lesser 

 wing-coverts deep black with a broad terminal bar of pure 

 white. 



Guiraca caerulea. — Wilson in his description of this species 

 says, "The female is of a dark drab color, tinged with blue, and 

 considerably lightest below." More recent writers appear to have 

 overlooked that the female in high plumage exhibits considerable 

 blue coloration, attesting that Wilson even at this day may be 

 consulted with profit in matters relating purely to the technics of 

 ornithology. The following descriptions of two specimens illus- 

 trate the higher colors assumed by the female. 



9 ad. (Aug. 25, 1S85). Crown, rump, jugulum, fore breast, 

 malar region, and lesser coverts, blue; occiput, auriculars, throat 

 and neck all around, scapulars, edge of wing, upper tail-coverts, 

 outer edges of rectrices, except lateral pair, strongly tinged with 

 blue. This specimen is in worn plumage with three rectrices in 

 process of renewal. 



9 ad. (May 7, 1891). Top of head, fore part of cervix, 

 throat, jugulum, malar region, rump, lesser coverts, and edge of 

 wing, blue, obscm - ed by brownish tips to the feathers, particu- 



