PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 197 



volved by the moult, but frequently they are not reached, nor is 

 the posterior part of the crown nor the back and rump in most 

 cases. In some birds the moult seems to be almost wholly sup- 

 pressed and they breed in worn autumnal dress. Young and 

 old as a rule now become practically indistinguishable. 



5. ADULT WINTER PLUMAGE acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult in August. Differs from first winter in being of a 

 clearer gray on the throat with less buff and the vermiculations 

 more obscure, the crown and superciliary stripes whiter. The 

 breast spot is less obvious. 



6. ADULT NUPTIAL PLUMAGE acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult which involves the same areas as in the young bird, and 

 produces a similar plumage richer with age and grayer on the 

 throat. As all spring specimens show signs of moult it is prob- 

 ably that both old and young moult twice a year. It is impos- 

 sible to tell them apart in every case in the spring, and hence the 

 difficulty in affirming a double moult after the first year. 



Female. The plumages and moults of the female correspond 

 to those of the male. In Juvenal plumage males and females 

 are indistinguishable ; in first winter plumage females usually 

 have much paler brown crown stripes, the gray of the breast 

 brownish and streaked rather than vermiculated. The pre- 

 nuptial moult may be almost wholly suppressed in young birds 

 or so extensive that they assume the same first nuptial plumage 

 as the male. Older, the sexes are practically indistinguishable, 

 females probably averaging duller in general color. 



Spizella monticola (GmeL). TREE SPARROW 



1. NATAL DOWN. No specimen seen. 



2. JUVENAL PLUMAGE acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, streaked with sepia and clove-brown with tinges of chestnut on crown and 

 back. Wings and tail, deep olive-brown edged with grayish white, the coverts 

 and tertiaries with pale buff. Below dull white, grayish on the throat, yellow- 

 ish on abdomen and crissum, the sides washed with pale cinnamon, streaked 

 (except on abdomen and crissum) with dull black. Bill and feet dull sepia- 

 brown in dried specimens. 



Description from a bird taken August 3 I st in Labrador. 



