PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 287 



are assumed contrasting with the worn occipital ones, while the 

 yellow or black ones assumed elsewhere are less obviously 

 fresh. Wear is soon quite marked, the upper parts becoming 

 grayer. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete postnup- 

 tial moult in July. Quite different from first winter dress, the 

 black " necklace " being of heavy streaks and the black area on 

 the lores and crown larger ; black feathers with broad grayish 

 edgings are assumed on the crown, and the wing edgings are 

 apt to be grayer and bluish instead of greenish. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired apparently by wear, 

 although it is likely there is some new growth. It seems to 

 me the edgings of the crown feathers of the most worn spring 

 specimens are grayer and longer than could result from wear, 

 which is considerable in this species. Winter material is needed 

 to be sure which condition regularly prevails. 



Female. — The plumages and moults correspond to those of 

 the male from which the female is first distinguishable in first 

 winter dress. This is a little paler than that of the male with- 

 out black on the crown which is brownish in contrast to the 

 back and the "necklace" consists of obscure grayish lines. 

 The first nuptial plumage, acquired by a very limited moult, dif- 

 fers very little from the previous plumage which is modified by 

 wear. The adult winter plumage differs slightly if any from the 

 first winter ; it has a bluer gray tint on the back and the crown is 

 yellow-tinged rather than brown. The adult nuptial dress is 

 usually marked by the " necklace " and lores being more dis- 

 tinctly black and frequently dusky spotting on the forehead, but 

 the female may never be mistaken for the male except possibly 

 in a few rare cases. 



Setophag-a ruticilla (Linn.). American Redstart 



1. Natal Down. Hair-brown. 



2. JuvEN.\L Plu.mage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, including sides of the head, deep sepia-brown. Wings and tail deep olive- 

 brown, the basal portion of the primaries, secondaries and outer rectrices pale 



