432 \ [^J 



space a few yards square for over an hour at a time. When at rest, they 

 showed none of the nervous traits oi the Yellow-legs, being much more 

 sedate, neither jerking the head not tilting the tail. In tlight they were 

 quite similar to the Yellow-legs, bul as soon as alighted, they bunched and 

 frequently the whole Bock fed with their bodies nearly touching. 



Like the Yellow-legs, the Stilt Sandpipers were seldom seen upon the 

 exposed nun! hut preferred wading where the water was from one to three 

 inches in depth, so that the entire head and neck frequently disappeared 

 beneath the surface oi the water while feeding. The notes oi the two 

 birds though similar in form, were wholly unlike in quality, that oi the Stilt 

 Sandpiper being mellower and lower in pitch.— Aurm i; A. At 1 r\ 

 .V. V. 



Unusual plumages of the Ocellated Turkey (A s octUata). — 



Of many females oi this turkey that have come under my observation, 

 during three years residence in the southern and central parts of Campeche, 



Mexico, the plumages oi three specimens demand special description. 

 In all three of these birds, the first four oi the inner secondaries have their 

 exposed portions oi an iridescent green, a subterminal bronzy bar. and the 

 tips oi grayish white. The inner secondaries have their exposed parts of a 

 " pepper and salt " pattern, which is lightest on the extreme outer margins 

 and the tips. Unexposed parts of these feathers — that is, the outer 

 halves are oi a dull black, while their main stems are black. Inner 

 halves oi all the secondaries dull black at base-, passing to a soiled white 

 on the margins with an inclination toward mottling at the ends. 



Primaries clear, sooty black, being blotched with grayish white near 

 bases, especially on the outer vanes. 



The remainder of the plumage in these three birds is normal, while the 

 above described departure therefrom, with respect to the wings, is so 

 striking and so conspicuous that it commands the attention of the observer 

 at once and under all conditions. 



One oi these abnormally plutnaged individuals came into my possession 

 alive, but was, unfortunately, killed and eaten by a large hawk a short 

 time afterwards; the remaining two were shot and preserved. Oi these, 

 one was shot out oi a (lock numbering some fifteen or twenty birds on the 

 25th oi September. 1912, it having immediately attracted my attention 

 from the fact that its wing plumage was so different from that of the rest 

 oi the flock, al! of which wore the normal plumage 



This specimen typifies the rare and unusual coloration described above, 

 it having about completed the assumption oi the second plumage, only 

 the outer rectriees oi the first plumage not having, as yet. been molted. 



My remaining bird was collected on the 9th of November, of the same 

 year, it being associated at the time with another female and two males, 

 all oi these last being normally plutnaged individuals. 



In the wing of this specimen, the first eight primaries oi either side 

 present a mottling of grayish white toward their tips. No explanation 



