PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 265 



narrow and obscure superciliary line and orbital ring pale canary yellow ; the 

 lores whitish, a faint dusky transocular stripe. One or two black crown feathers 

 are occasionally assumed. 



Resembles D. castanea and D. vigorsii but distinguishable from either of them by 

 the streaked back and duller colors. 



4. FIRST NUPTIAL PLUMAGE acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult which involves most of the body plumage, the wing 

 coverts and tertiaries, but not the rest of the wings nor the tail. 

 Young and old become practically indistinguishable. The black 

 cap and black and white plumage are assumed, at first evidently, 

 somewhat veiled by whitish edgings. The early beginning of 

 the prenuptial moult is indicated by a specimen labeled Roraima, 

 British Guiana, November 1st, which shows active moult in 

 progress on the nape, back, abdomen and sides, where black and 

 white feathers are replacing yellowish ones. 



5. ADULT WINTER PLUMAGE acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult in July. Similar to first winter dress but whiter 

 below, the streaking often distinctly black and extending to the 

 chin, which is spotted here and there ; above the crown is de- 

 cidedly streaked or marked with stray black feathers ; the wings 

 and tail are blacker and the edgings darker and grayer especially 

 on the tertiaries. The slight sprinkling of black feathers is like 

 that found in Dolichonyx orizivorus and some other species in 

 the autumn. 



6. ADULT NUPTIAL PLUMAGE acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult as in the young bird. 



Female. The plumages and moults correspond to those of the 

 male from which it is first distinguishable in first winter plum- 

 age, but not in every case. Females are then a little greener 

 above and yellower below including the crissum, the streaks on 

 the sides extremely faint. The first nuptial plumage acquired 

 by moult is a little paler than the first winter, the head, back 

 and sides with distinct black streaks ; resembles the male in first 

 winter dress but more decidedly streaked. The adult winter 

 plumage is practically indistinguishable from first winter but 

 rather paler and with the wing edgings darker. The adult nup- 

 tial plumage much resembles the male in adult winter dress and 



