168 DWIGHT 



plumage is assumed which is very Hke the juvenal but with 

 much Mar's-brown above chiefl)' on the head and strongly- 

 washed below with wood-brown, these colors edging slaty 

 feathers ; the lores and auriculars are dull black in contrast. 

 The first nuptial plumage is acquired by wear and later plum- 

 ages var)' little from the first winter. 



Quiscalus quiscula (Linn.). Purple Grackle 



1. Natal Down. Pale sepia-brown. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Whole plumage dull clove-brown, the body feathers often very faintly edged with 

 paler brown. Tail darker with purplish tints. Bill and feet sepia-brown, 

 black when older. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 juvenal moult early in August. 



The iridescent black dress is acquired, old and young becoming indistinguishable. 



Some birds assume metallic green heads and some blue, while 

 the backs are of all colors and patterns so that age can have 

 nothing to do with the \'aried colors of this species. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear which pro- 

 duces no noticeable effect as is regularly the case with iridescent 

 plumages. 



5. Adult Winter Pluma(;e acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult beginning the first of August. Indistinguishable 

 from first winter. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear as in the 

 young bird. 



Female. — In juvenal dress the female is perhaps paler below 

 than is the male and usually indistinctly streaked. There is a 

 complete postjuvenal moult and later plumages differ from the 

 male only in being much duller and browner with few metallic 

 reflections. They also show more wear. 



Quiscalus quiscula aeneus (Ridgw.). Bronzed Grackle 



Plumages and moults correspond to those of Q. quiscula, the 

 two forms in natal down and juvenal plumage being practically 



