PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 189 



This plumage is worn a long time and is much frayed and 

 faded when the postju venal moult begins about the middle of 

 August. 



3. F"iRST Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 juvenal moult in August. 



The pattern of nearly all the feathers is changed from that of the juvenal plumage, 

 the streaking of the pectoral band being lost, the barring of the tail replaced 

 by uniform brown, and the plain brown tertiaries acquiring apical sepia-brown 

 spots. (Plate II, fig. 2, shows a tertiary of this plumage and fig. 3 the effect 

 of wear upon it. ) The feathers of the back are black with apical chestnut 

 spots edged with pearl-gray ; the nape lacks most of the black, and the pileum 

 most of the gray, of the previous plumage. The median crown stripe and the 

 edgings of the tertiaries and wing coverts are rich buff, of the wing quills and 

 tail olive-gray, the bend of the wing bright lemon. The wings and tail are 

 darker. Below, including sides of head and superciliary line, rich bufi", deepest 

 on jugulum, very obscurely streaked with pale cinnamon, the middle of the 

 abdomen pure white. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult at the south in April, which involves chiefly the chin, sides 

 of head and crown and a few scattering feathers of the other 

 tracts ; but not the wings nor the tail. The yellow superciliaiy 

 spot is acquired. Wear is more marked than is the slight moult, 

 which perhaps does not deser\-e the name, fading removing a 

 large part of the buff tints and abrasion fraying the feathers, so 

 that by the end of the breeding season even the terminal spots 

 of the tertiaries become gouged out as shown on plate II, fig. 3. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult. Differs very little from first winter dress, the buff 

 less obvious and the colors deeper. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired apparently b}' a partial 

 prenuptial moult as in the young bird. 



Female. — The sexes are practically indistinguishable and 

 have corresponding moults and plumages. 



Ammodramus henslowii (Aud.). Henslow's Sparrow 



1. Natal Down. Smoke-gray. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above clay -color, streaked on head and back with black, the feathers with rounded 



