in Various Species of North American Birds. 21 



that this plum.age is worn through the winter months, or nearly up to 

 the commencement of the breeding season, as is shown by specimens shot 

 on the migration through Massachusetts in April. It will be seen hj a 

 comparison of the following descriptions that the brightest plumage is 

 reached in autumnal specimens, a case parallel with that of Parus atrica- 

 pillus. Hence I have judged it best to redescribe the spring or breeding 

 plumage, using Mr. Ridgway's words so far as they are definitely appli- 

 cable. The autumnal plumage is presented, I believe, for the first time. 



Breeding plumage : Adult male. " Above ashy-blue ; top of head 

 black : a white line above and a black one through the ej^e." Entire un- 

 der parts dirty white, tinged very slightly with pale rusty on breast, sides, 

 abdomen, and crissum. From specimen in my collection shot at Upton, 

 Me., May 31, 1871. 



Adult female. With black of head scarcely duller than in the male : 

 beneath similar, perhaps a trifle less rusty. From specimen in my col- 

 lection obtained on Muskeget Island, Mass., June 30, 1870. It is very 

 possible that this bird represents a development of plumage only excep- 

 tionally attained by the female ; I have seen no other specimen of that 

 sex with the color of the crown so nearly approaching that of the male. 



Autumnal plumage of young : male. Upper parts'as in breeding adults, 

 the ash-blue a little clearer and brighter. Chin white ; rest of under 

 parts brownish-rusty, paler on throat and intensifying into light chestnut 

 on sides. A narrow line down centre of abdomen pure white (this last 

 feature, though characteristic of most specimens, is wanting in a few). 

 From a specimen in my collection shot at Upton, Me., September 7, 1874. 

 f- Female. Pileura dark ashy mixed with black. Otherwise similar to 

 male and scarcely lighter beneath. From specimen in my collection shot 

 at Upton, Me., September 12, 1874. 



The adult in autumn is paler beneath than the young. 



15. Thryothorus ludovicianus. 



First plumage : male. Top of head dark rusty, each feather edged and 

 tipped broadly with dull black, the former color nearly, eliminated by the 

 latter on the crown and forehead. Under parts nearly as in adult, but 

 more cinnamoneous ; a few narrow, wavy, and somewhat badly defined 

 transverse lines of black across the breast and abdomen. From a speci- 

 men in my collection shot at Petroleum, West Va., May 1, 1874. 



16. Troglodytes a'edon. 

 First pluma-ge : female. Upper parts more reddish than in adult : 

 throat, jugulum, and breast pale fulvous-white, each feather on breast 

 tipped with pale drab, giving that part of the plumage a delicately scu- 

 tellate appearance. Abdomen whitish ; sides, anal region, and crissum 

 dull rusty-brown, becoming almost chestnut on the crissum. No trace 

 of bars on feathers of the body either above or beneath. From specimen 

 in my collection shot at Cambridge, Mass., July 9, 1873. 



