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A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BKITISH BIRDS. 



tips and fringes ; primary-coverts white usually with black tips 

 (extent of white on primaries and amount or total absence of black 

 on secondaries and primary-coverts varies individually) ; bastard- 

 wing black ; greater coverts white, innermost black fringed and 

 tipped white or tawny-buff; median and lesser coverts white. 

 This plumage is acquired by complete moult in August and early 

 September. Summer. A moult affecting chin, throat, ear- 

 coverts, and sides of head takes place in March and new feathers 

 are pure white except those of ear-coverts which are tinged buff. 

 Abrasion of tips and fringes of feathers gradually causes remarkable 

 change in coloration of upper-parts, whole crown and back of neck 



Snow-Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis). Lower, ? first winter. Upper, <? ad. winter. 



becoming pure white ; mantle, back, scapulars, and inner secondaries 

 black ; rump generally white but in some black and white or 

 nearly black ; tail- and wing-feathers black and white ; whole 

 under-parts pure white. 



Adult female. Winter. Like male but upper -parts duller 

 buff not so bright tawny ; feathers of crown, nape and rump with 

 black centres ; black portion of feathers of mantle less extensive 

 and not so deep a black ; tail- and wing-feathers browner not so 

 jet-black ; two outer pairs of taiJ -feathers with black extending 

 further towards base of shaft and inner webs black at base, next 

 pah* with very little white ; primaries with no white showing 



