218 DWIGHT 



from males. The first nuptial is acquired by a limited prenup- 

 tial moult. In subsequent plumages the throat remains pale 

 brown with lateral black chin streaks without the black patch of 

 the male and the colors elsewhere are regularly duller. 



Calamospiza melanocorys (Stejn.) L.ark Buxtixg. 



1. Natal Dowx. Mouse-gray. 



2. JuvEXAL Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, clove-brown, the feathers with broad wood-brown edgings which are darker 

 on the crown and rump and form an indistinct median stripe on the crown. 

 Wings deep olive-brown, the outer primaries usually dull black, everywhere rather 

 broadly edged with white, including the secondaries and the primary coverts ; 

 the greater coverts largely pinkish buff, fomiing a broad wing band. Tail dull 

 black tipped with white spots, the outer pair of rectrices edged with white, the 

 the others with cinnamon. Below, white, tinged with cream-bufl" and streaked, 

 e.xcept on the abdomen, with dull clove-brown. Auriculars and lores dusky. 

 Bill and feet in dried specimen, clay-color. 



3. First W'ixter Plu.nl\ge acquired by a partial postjuvenal 



moult which involves the bod}- plumage and wing coverts, but 



not the remiges nor rectrices. 



Above, olive-brown with darker streakings. Below, white, streaked with clove- 

 brown, least on crissum, abdomen and throat, but the streaks aggregating into 

 a blotch on the breast. The chin dull black, entirely veiled with broad white 

 edgings. The greater coverts pale cinnamon forming a broad wing band. The 

 tertiaries and other wing coverts are edged with deep cinnamon. 



Some young birds become indistinguishable from adults. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult in April in Arizona which involves most of the body plu- 

 mage, tertiaries and wing coverts but not the rest of the wrings 

 nor the tail. The jet-black dress is assumed, relieved by white 

 bands on the wings. Browner and more worn remiges with 

 traces of the edgings partly worn off distinguish young birds 

 from old, this feature being especially marked among the pri- 

 mary coverts. 



5. Adult Wixter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult occurring during September in Mexico. 



The wings and tail are much blacker than the first winter 

 dress and lack almost wholly the edgings of this period. The 



