304 Mr. H. Whistler on the [Ibis, 



not correct ; and although my specimens do not supply a full 

 history of the changes undergone by the bird, the following- 

 notes may be of interest : — 



Juvenile plumage (2 specimens ; July and September). 



Upper surface earthy brown, streaked and spotted with 

 pah^ creamy buff; upper tail-coverts pale creamy buff; wings 

 dark brown, all the feathers edged with rufous, the median 

 coverts with triangular whitish tips; tail dai'k brown, all the 

 feathers edged on both webs and tipped with rufous; the 

 outer pair of feathers have the entire outer web and a small 

 portion of the base of the inner Aveb rufous; sides of the head, 

 lores, and ear-coverts dirty white, mottled with brown ; the 

 lower surface dull huffish white, mottled with brown on the 

 throat and breast. This [ilumage is therefore entirely similar 

 in character and markings to the juvenile plumage of 

 Saxicola r. rubetra (L.), which is, however, much redder in 

 tint. It is moulted in September. 



The adult male in ivinter plumage is as described (F. B. I. 

 vol. ii. p. 63), except that the upper tail-coverts are pure white, 

 broadly tipped with rufous ; the primary-coverts are pure 

 white, with some black on the inner webs. 



First lointer males are apparently to be distinguished by 

 the less pure and shining white of the throat, the lesser 

 extent of white on the tail-feathers, and by the primary- 

 coverts, which are blackish brown with white edges. 



77ie adult females and first winter females appear to be in- 

 distinguishable. They are similar to males in winter plumage, 

 but the upper tail-coverts are pale rnfous, the white of the 

 chin and throat and the warm buff of the breast are less 

 marked, so that the two areas are not in such marked con- 

 trast ; the white shoulder-patch is reduced in area or v/anting ; 

 the primary-coverts are similar to the rest of the wing. The 

 tail lacks the white patches on the inner webs. 



The adult male in summer 2)l^i'>nage is very handsome, 

 resembling somewhat Oreicola ferrea in summer: this plumage 

 appears to be assumed partly by moult and partly by abrasion. 

 The whole of the upper surface, except the tail-coverts which 

 are white, is sooty black, the feathers more or less edged. 



