PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 193 



the supraloral space, the superciliary line greenish. Below, dull white washed 

 across jugulum, on sides and crissum with buff, and broadly and rather indis- 

 tinctly streaked (except on chin and mid-abdomen which are pure white) with 

 olive-gray. 



4. FIRST NUPTIAL PLUMAGE acquired by wear. The plumage 

 of these birds when they reach the latitude of New York in May 

 is already ragged, and by the end of the breeding season the 

 feathers are in shreds, the plumage becoming a dingy brown 

 above and a mottled gray below the only distinctive markings 

 being a dirty white chin and yellow supraloral spots. The tat- 

 tered condition of this species illustrates how unfortunate it is to 

 base specific descriptions on breeding plumages. 



5. ADULT WINTER PLUMAGE acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult beginning in mid-August. The fresh plumage 

 assumed is in sharp contrast to the ragged one doffed and differs 

 very little from first winter except in the richness of the tints, 

 being a trifle darker and grayer with less buff. 



6. ADULT NUPTIAL PLUMAGE acquired by wear as in the 

 young bird. It is rather surprising that a species living in the 

 same environment as A. caudacutus and suffering equally from 

 abrasion due to coarse marsh grasses and reeds should have but 

 one moult in the year, while the latter has two. 



Female. The plumages and moults are identical, the colors 

 .averaging somewhat duller. 



Chondestes grammacus (Say). LARK SPARROW 



1. NATAL DOWN. No specimen seen. 



2. JUVENAL PLUMAGE acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, deep olive-brown, including wings and tail, the feathers edged with pale 

 buff and dull white, producing a streaked effect on the back and head ; the 

 greater coverts are edged with buff, the primaries and secondaries with pale 

 vinaceous cinnamon, an area of this color at the bases of the primaries forming 

 a spot beneath their coverts ; the rectrices broadly tipped with white. Below, 

 dull white, the chin, throat, breast and sides flecked and streaked with deep 

 olive-brown. Superciliary stripes pale buff flecked with dull black ; suborbital 

 region white ; loral and rictal streaks and posterior auriculars black ; anterior 

 auriculars sepia-brown. Bill and feet pinkish buff, the upper mandible be- 

 coming dusky, the lower, and the feet dull clay-color. 



ANNALS N. Y. ACAD. Sci., XIII, Sept. 7, 1900 13 



