282 DWIGHT 



6. ADULT NUPTIAL PLUMAGE apparently acquired by wear, 

 although I think there must be a limited prenuptial moult if it 

 deserves the name. I have examined specimens of this species 

 taken every month in the year, but I have seen only a few young 

 birds showing actual moult in February, March and April. The 

 adult nuptial and winter plumages are so extremely similar that 

 wear alone might convert the latter into the former, but even 

 with the large series I have examined positive conclusions are 

 not possible. 



Female, The plumages and moults correspond to those of 

 the male. In Juvenal plumage the sexes are alike. In first 

 winter plumage the female is much browner, the yellow of the 

 lower surface is wholly replaced by buff, and there is no black 

 about the head. The first nuptial dress is assumed by a limited 

 prenuptial moult (sometimes suppressed) illustrated by a speci- 

 men of February 4th. Later plumages differ little, except in 

 yellowness, from the first winter dress and no black is ever as- 

 sumed about the head. 



Icteria virens (Linn.). YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT 



1. NATAL DOWN. No specimen seen. 



2. JUVENAL PLUMAGE acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, grayish olive-brown. Wings and tail olive-brown, edged with dull brownish 

 olive-green. Below, ashy gray washed with olive-gray across the jugulum and 

 on the sides. Auriculars grayish and lores dusky with a trace of white above 

 the eye. Bill and feet pinkish brown, the former becoming slaty and the 

 latter black. 



This plumage has been figured in colors (Auk, XVI, 1899, 

 pp. 217-220, pi. III). 



3. FIRST WINTER PLUMAGE acquired by a complete post- 

 juvenal moult after the middle of July. Two specimens exam- 

 ined show a complete moult in progress and the color and 

 shape of rectrices in the limited material at my disposal points 

 to this unusual moult, for this is the only Warbler known to me 

 that renews wings and tail at this time. 



