442 APPENDIX. 



at first no distinct markings, but are easily recognized. The 

 crown shows black, and then scarlet, very early. In Melanerpes 

 erythrocephalus (Red-headed Woodpecker), at first "young 1 

 without any red, the head and neck being grayish streaked with 

 dusky ; breast with an ashy tinge, and streaked sparsely with 

 dusky ; secondaries with two or three bands of black ; dorsal 

 region clouded with grayish." (B. B. and R.) 



The owls (Strigidce, 26) belong more or less distinctly to 

 the third class. The young of Nyctale are described as more 

 or less brown beneath, where they are unmarked. Descriptions 

 of the young hawks who are much unlike their parents (Falcon- 

 idee, 27) may be found with those of the adults. The young 

 of our two pigeons (Columbidce, 28) resemble at first the 

 females. 



The adult birds of many species change their dress for the 

 autumn and winter, so that the coloration is materially altered. 



During the winter-season (only), the males resemble the fe- 

 males in the Blue Birds (Sialia sialis), a majority of our war- 

 blers (several of whom lose an ashiness or grayness, observable 

 above in spring), the tanagers (?), many of the finches (even 

 several plainly-colored kinds), and some of the starlings, not- 

 ably the Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). The male "Yel- 

 low-rump" (Dendroeca coronata) and Goldfinches (Chrysomi- 

 tris tristis) become in autumn more or less brown, and remain 

 so throughout the winter. 



I have now detailed the most important seasonal changes 

 observable in the (insessorian) birds of New England. I have 

 often quoted Dr. Coues, on account of his rank as an authority, 

 and the, frequent terseness of his descriptions. 



