The Birds' Calendar 



richness of the coloring produce a far more 

 striking and beautiful effect than one would 

 infer from the language of the description. My 

 view of him was most satisfactory, as he was 

 remarkably fearless in allowing one to approach 

 him. A peculiarity of this bird is its con- 

 stantly spreading the tail (not flirting it, like 

 the red-poll), and the action was the more 

 noticeable on account of the large white spots 

 on the quills. After lingering about for a few 

 days he disappeared, and afterward I found a 

 female, or else an immature male, in which the 

 hood was much restricted hardly more than 

 the outline of black. If there is anything 

 shabby or deficient in the attire of a specimen, 

 it is usually safe in spring to relegate it to the 

 female persuasion, although in many cases the 

 young males are condemned to wear the mean 

 habiliments of the female until they have 

 gained their glorious prerogatives. Commonly 

 the young male comes out in full plumage the 

 second year ; but in a few cases, of which I 

 think the hooded warbler is one, not until the 

 third year. 



The catbirds are becoming numerous, and 

 at the Pond a large waterfowl attracted my 

 attention, passing in graceful flight across the 



140 



