210 * DWIGHT 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult which involves the body plumage but not the wings nor 

 the tail. Distinguishable from first nuptial by the black wings 

 and worn tail. The retained tertiaries and secondaries become 

 much worn and the terminal spots are gradually lost often leav- 

 ing gaps in their place. 



Female. — The female is streaked with brown and possesses 

 salmon-colored or cadmium-yellow under wing coverts in all 

 plumages. In first winter plumage, lacking the pink throat of 

 the male ; the under wing coverts, regularly cadmium-yellow. 

 The nuptial plumages are acquired by wear alone or by a veiy 

 limited prenuptial moult. 



Guiraca caerulea (Linn.). Blue Grosbeak 



1. Natal Down. Brownish mouse-gray. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, bistre, grayish on the rump, russet tinged on the pileum, the feathers with 

 wood-brown or i-usset edgings. Wings and tail dull clove-brown, with wood- 

 brown edgings, two indistinct wing bands and narrow tipping of the tail buff. 

 Below rich clay-color, pale buff on the chin, abdomen and crissum. Bill and 

 feet dusky pinkish buff becoming darker 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by a partial postjuvenal 



moult, beginning early in August, which involves body plumage 



and wing coverts but not the rest of the wings nor the tail. 



Similar to the previous plumage the browns everywhere darker and richer especially 

 noticeable on the median wing coverts which become deep hazel, the crissum 

 which becomes cinnamon or dusky- streaked and the lores which are dull sepia- 

 brown. 



Further material may show that a few blue feathers are as- 

 sumed by some young males, at this moult. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult which involves a variable amount of the brown body 

 plumage and wing coverts, the tail wholly or in part and ap- 

 parently the outer primaries in some cases. A mixture of brown 

 and blue results, the key to the age of a specimen being the re- 

 tained brown primaiy coverts. The moult must occur in mid- 

 winter judging by the worn condition of spring specimens. 



