364 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



observing the change of plumage for two years and a 

 half, and so gradually does this change take place 

 that it is only at long intervals that any great dif- 

 ference of plumage can be noticed. When the bird 

 was first captured, it was spotted all over. In Sep- 

 tember, 1864, when, perhaps, fifteen months old, the 

 spots on that portion of the plumage which ulti- 

 mately remains white, disappeared, and the back 

 and wings from being spotted became light brown, 

 with patches of dark grey feathers appearing here 

 and there at regular intervals. The bill at this time 

 was of a dark horn-colour; the eye very darkjbrown, 

 almost black ; the legs and toes light brownish white. 



In September, 1865, at the age of two years and 

 three months, the head, neck, breast, and tail had 

 become a purer white ; but the crown and nape were 

 still speckled with dark grey, and the distal half of 

 the tail was transversely and irregularly marked with 

 grey. On the back and wings the light brown 

 feathers had given way, in irregular patches, to 

 others of a dark grey colour, and the upper parts 

 might now be described as almost of a dark slate- 

 colour, just a tinge of brown still pervading. The 

 bill was gradually getting lighter in colour at the 

 base, but might still be described as of a light horn- 

 colour ; the eye dark brown ; the legs and toes a 

 nondescript colour between brown, pink, and white. 



In May, 1866, at the age of three years, the full 

 adult plumage not yet attained, the description of 



