62 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XI. 
IRREGULAR AND ABNORMAL MOULT. 
I should like briefly to refer here to cases of irregular and 
abnormal moult. 
Irregularity in moult concerns (1) the time, 7.e. month of 
the moult; (2) the extent of the moult. Thus, juveniles 
normally moult in autumn into their first winter plumage, 
but some winter and spring examples of the following waders 
examined were still in worn juvenile plumage, viz. Ringed 
Plover, American Golden Plover, Sociable Plover, Yellow- 
shank, Greater Yellowshank, etc., while in some adults, as 
already mentioned, the moult into winter plumage is delayed 
and may not be completed till late winter or early spring. 
There are also many instances of irregularity in the extent 
of the moult ; some young birds retain many juvenile feathers 
normally moulted in their first winter plumage and there is 
much individual variation in the amount of the first winter 
plumage acquired, especially noticeable in the moult of the 
tail-feathers and wing-coverts, while very exceptionally the 
moult may even involve the remiges. In some adults, e.g. 
Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit, there is considerable 
individual variation in the amount of the summer plumage 
acquired and exceptionally the wing-quills are renewed at 
the spring moult. 
I have also examined numerous examples of adults in 
autumn, that had assumed some fresh winter feathers and 
yet had apparently stopped moulting, as no growing 
feathers could be found, e.g. American Golden Plover Q, 
Toronto 15/9/96, with fresh winter feathers on breast but no 
growing feathers apparent; ¢ Truro, August 19th, acquired 
much winter plumage on under-parts, yet no moult apparent ; 
also specimens of the following species: Asiatic Golden 
Plover, Curlew-Sandpiper, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, 
Semi-palmated Sandpiper, etc. The same thing occurs in 
some juveniles, e.g. a Bonaparte’s Sandpiper, North Truro, 
August 17th, had acquired many first winter feathers, but no 
moult was apparent ; Dusky Redshank, two females, Amur 
Bay, September 27th and October 20th, with some winter 
feathers on mantle, but not in moult. In some adults the 
moult into breeding plumage seems to stop and then begin 
again, e.g. Little Stint 9, Petchora, July 24th, getting a few 
summer feathers on head and neck, the rest of the summer 
plumage worn ; Broad-billed Sandpiper ¢, Russian Lapland, 
27/7/99, and another July 22nd, moulting head and neck only 
and getting summer feathers; Dusky Redshank 9, April 29th, 
has acquired a little summer plumage, but is not in moult, 
