PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 107 



In many species, especially among the Warblers and Vireos, 

 a moult begins at the usual points on the breast almost as soon 

 as the birds leave the nest and the succeeding winter plumage is 

 assumed usually without loss of wings or tail. In many other 

 species, however, this plumage is worn for several weeks or even 

 several months before the postjuvenal moult sets in, and such 

 birds as a rule completely renew their plumage. Without speci- 

 mens taken at just the proper time it is extremely easy to over- 

 look the moult of the flight-feathers which often resemble very 

 closely in pattern or color those which they replace. Most of the 

 Swallows and Flycatchers and a few other species after wearing 

 the juvenal plumage for a long period leave for the south with- 

 out apparent renewal. This is indicated by specimens from the 

 tropics which prove a later or midwinter postjuvenal moult at a 

 period when other species have begun their prenuptial. Only 

 occasionally parts of this plumage fail to be replaced, and are, 

 of course, retained until the next occurring moult, becoming 

 meanwhile worn and ragged. As a rule the primary coverts are 

 regularly retained with the primaries, the greater coverts usually 

 renewed, but sometimes retained as in the Thrushes and some 

 others, the median and lesser coverts almost always renewed 

 and the tertiaries sometimes renewed and sometimes not, even in 

 the same species. The alulae are regularly renewed, but not in 

 all cases. The moult of the remiges and rectrices depends 

 upon the species, many retaining them for a whole year until 

 the postnuptial moult takes place the following summer. All 

 other feathers not already specified are regularly moulted. 



3. First Winter Plumage (plate IV, fig. 2, plate VI, fig. 1). 

 This is the plumage usually designated as " immature fall," 

 "young in autumnal plumage," "young of the year," " horno- 

 tine " and various other appellations with elastic meanings. It 

 seems to me the name selected is most appropriate for this third 

 stage to the exclusion of others, for the plumages of successive 

 winters may then be called "second," "third," etc., if desirable, 

 or "adult " take the place of these adjectives as soon as age 

 characters are lost. The first winter plumage, always assumed 

 by a more or less complete postjuvenal moult, differs little if 



