PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 193 



the supraloral space, the superciHary line greenish. Below, dull white washed 

 across jugulum, on sides and crissum with buff", and broadly and rather indis- 

 tinctly streaked (except on chin and mid-abdomen which are pure white) with 

 olive-gray. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear. The plumage 

 of these birds when the}' reach the latitude of New York in Ma}- 

 is already ragged, and by the end of the breeding season the 

 feathers are in shreds, the plumage becoming a ding}- brown 

 above and a mottled gray below the onl}' distincti\'e markings 

 being a dirt}- white chin and yellow supraloral spots. The tat- 

 tered condition of this species illustrates how unfortunate it is to 

 base specific descriptions on breeding plumages. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult beginning in mid-August. The fresh plumage 

 assumed is in sharp contrast to the ragged one doffed and differs 

 vet}' little from first winter except in the richness of the tints, 

 being a trifle darker and grayer with less buff 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired b}- wear as in the 

 young bird. It is rather surprising that a species living in the 

 same environment as A. candaattus and suffering equally from 

 abrasion due to coarse marsh grasses and reeds should have but 

 one moult in the }-ear, while the latter has two. 



Female. — The plumages and moults are identical, the colors 

 averacrincr somewhat duller. 



Chondestes grammacus (Say). Lark Sparrow 



1. Natal Down. No specimen seen. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired b}- a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, deep olive-brown, including wings and tail, the feathers edged with pale 

 buff" and dull white, producing a streaked effect on the back and head ; the 

 greater coverts are edged with buff", the primaries and secondaries with pale 

 vinaceous cinnamon, an area of this color at the bases of the primaries forming 

 a spot beneath their coverts ; the rectrices broadly tipped with white. Below, 

 dull white, the chin, throat, breast and sides flecked and streaked with deep 

 olive-brown. Superciliary stripes pale buff' flecked with dull black ; suborbital 

 region white ; loral and rictal streaks and posterior auriculars black ; anterior 

 auriculars sepia-brown. Bill and feet pinkish buff", the upper mandible be- 

 coming dusky, the lower, and the feet dull clay-color. 



Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., XIII, Sept. 7, 1900 — 13 



