272 DWIGHT 



4. FIRST NUPTIAL PLUMAGE acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult which involves chiefly the crown, sides of head, chin and 

 throat and not the rest of the plumage. It is interesting to note 

 that a very few new feathers are acquired on nearly all of the 

 tracts except the alar. If they were in color contrast the effect 

 would be not unlike Piranga rnbra or Icterus spurius, A rich 

 chestnut cap is assumed, contrasting sharply with the worn 

 feathers of the occiput, the lores become dull black, the auricu- 

 lars chestnut and the yellow of the chin and breast becomes 

 brighter with rich chestnut streaks on the sides of the throat 

 and breast. The streaking of the sides of the chin and across 

 the jugulum are darker. Elsewhere a few stray feathers are 

 acquired, as shown by a large series in actual moult, but most 

 of the plumage of the posterior parts of the body shows a great 

 amount of wear, as might be expected in a species of terrestrial 

 habits. I have seen birds in moult in December and January, 

 from Jamaica, W. I., and I have taken similar birds in Florida 

 and Georgia in March and April and near New York city late in 

 April. 



5. ADULT WINTER PLUMAGE acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult in August. Differs little from the first winter 

 dress, but of a richer brown above with darker wing edgings, the 

 chestnut more abundant on the crown and the streakings below 

 more conspicuous. 



6. ADULT NUPTIAL PLUMAGE acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult as in the young bird. , 



Female. The sexes are very similar in all plumages, females 

 usually a little browner and with less yellow. In first winter 

 plumage with very little or no chestnut on the crown and later 

 practically indistinguishable, but undergoing the same moults as 

 the male, the prenuptial more limited. 



Dendroica discolor (Vieill.). PRAIRIE WARBLER 



1. NATAL DOWN. No specimen seen. 



2. JUVENAL PLUMAGE acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



