The Birds’ Calendar 
richness of the coloring produce a far more 
striking and beautiful effect than one would 
infer from the language of the description. My 
view of him was most satisfactory, as he was — 
remarkably fearless in allowing one to approach 
him. A peculiarity of this bird is its con- 
stantly spreading the tail (not flirting it, like 
the red-poll), and the action was the more 
noticeable on account of the large white spots 
on the quills. After lingering about for a few 
days he disappeared, and afterward I found a 
female, or else an immature male, in which the 
hood was much restricted—hardly more than 
the outline of black. If there is anything 
shabby or deficient in the attire of a specimen, 
it is usually safe in spring to relegate it to the 
female persuasion, although in many cases the 
young males are condemned to wear the mean 
habiliments of the female until they have 
gained their glorious prerogatives. Commonly 
the young male comes out in full plumage the 
second year; but in a few cases, of which I 
think the hooded warbler is one, not until the 
third year. 
The catbirds are becoming numerous, and 
at the Pond a large waterfowl attracted my 
attention, passing in graceful flight across the 
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