THE AUK : 



A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



vol. xi. April, 1894. no. 2. 



FIRST PLUMAGES. 



BY J. A. ALLEN. 



Plate II. 



In Plate II of this number of 'The Auk' is given the first 

 of a series of plates intended to illustrate the first or nestling 

 plumage of various North American birds. The Ovenbird 

 (Seiurus aurocapilhis) is the subject chosen for the present 

 plate, in which is shown the adult bird and the young just from 

 the nest. 



As is well known, the first plumage is worn for only a few 

 weeks, to be succeeded by a plumage of quite different character, 

 as regards, usually, both its structure and coloration. It also 

 differs widely in character in different groups of birds. In the 

 Owls, Hawks, Gallinaceous Birds, Snipes, Rails, Ducks, Grebes, 

 and most Water-fowl, it is little more than a thick covering of 

 fluffy down. This is succeeded by a covering of true feathers, 

 which is, as a rule, worn till the moulting season of the following 

 year. In all these birds the first downy plumage is present 

 when the chick is hatched. On the other hand, all Passerine 

 birds, and many others, as the Woodpeckers, Swifts, Pigeons, 

 etc., are born practically naked, and their first clothing consists 

 of true feathers, which develop while the bird is a helpless 



