120 Chapman. Changes of Plumage in the Bobolink. [April 



in the vicinity of Tarpon Springs, but Mr. Atkins found them at Key 

 West rather commonly on April 28, 1887. and again saw them on May 3 

 of the same year. 



Turdus aonalaschkae pallasii. Hermit Thrush. — Common migrant 

 and winter resident on the Gulf coast. Mr. Atkins found it common in 

 winter at Punta Rassa and has a single record of it at Key West in Jan- 

 uary, 1889. 



Merula migratoria. American Robin. — An irregular migrant, but 

 present in small numbers almost every year, and sometimes abundant. 

 Appears late in December, and remains till the 10th of March which is the 

 latest record. Mr. Atkins says it was irregular in its visits to Punta 

 Rassa. but common at Key West in December and January, 1S87. 



Sialia sialis. Bluebird. — A rather common resident, and breeds, at all 

 points I have visited on the Gulf coast of Florida. Mr. Atkins has fur- 

 nished me with no notes regarding the species. 



In this paper I have attempted to bring down to date the latest 

 information regarding the birds of the region in question, but 

 notes accumulated which treat of the species dealt with in the 

 preceding parts (the publication extending back some two years) 

 seem worth presenting, and I hope to offer in an early number 

 of 'The Auk' a synopsis of the series, with such additional 

 information as will bring the latest knowledge obtained before 

 the readers of this journal. 



ON THE CHANGES OF PLUMAGE IN THE BOBO- 

 LINK {DOLICHONTX OR TZ IVOR US). 



BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN. 



The marked seasonal changes which occur in the plumage of 

 the Bobolink have ever been made a prominent fact in the life- 

 history of this well-known bird, but I am not aware that the sub- 

 ject has been studied with a complete series of specimens repre- 

 senting each stage of the bird's plumage as it appears throughout 

 its range. For this reason, perhaps, we may account for the 

 generally accepted statement, that the change in the male from 

 the female-like plumage of winter to the black and yellow cos- 

 tume of spring, occurs without loss of feathers but by a change 



