

ON THE OKNITHOLOGY OF LAPLAXP. 303 



presence of the dark striped feathers) was there 

 the slightest indication to lead one to suppose 

 that he would become red before the next moult. 

 The question is, when will that moult take place ? 

 some fancy in May, some in the ensuing Septem- 

 ber. I think it very probable that a change in 

 colour takes place in May, for it appears to me 

 t this orange colour gradually reddens without 

 ulting. And so much do the shades vary that 

 rcely two young males are exactly alike. It is 

 impossible to say how long this young plumage 

 lasts, but I am inclined to think certainly until 

 the second autumnal moult of the bird, perhaps 

 gradually becoming redder, and probably in many 

 birds even longer ; for early in November I have 

 killed young males of a beautiful orange-red colour, 

 which, from their size and general appearance, and 

 the total absence of the dark striped feathers of 

 youth, could not have been birds of the year. 

 These orange birds might certainly have been bred 

 very early in the preceding spring, but I think 

 not ; and I almost feel confident that this orange- 

 red colour is a gradual transition to the red dress, 

 or else that the mature male crossbill owns two 

 dresses i.e., that some birds of thesame age are 

 orange-red and others deep red. Of one thing, 

 however, I am perfectly convinced, that none of 

 the young males obtain the full deep-red dress at 



