DOWN-PLUMAGE. 153 



ROCK-DOVE Golumba livia, J. F. Gm. 

 Down. Colour. — Pale canary-yellow. 

 Character. — As in the last. 

 Distribution. — As in the last. 

 Coloration of Mouth. Inside, flesh pink ; externally, 



flanges whitish. 

 Bill. Dirty, flesh colour with a white tip and subterminal 

 ring of black ; " egg-cracker " same colour as the down. 



II. 



BY 

 A. GEOFFREY LEIGH. 



Since Dr. C. B. Ticehurst's article on the subject of Down- 

 Plumages appeared in British Birds (Vol. II., p. 186), 

 I have paid a good deal of attention to the distribution of 

 the down of nestling birds, and it may be of interest to give 

 particulars of the distribution of down in those nestlings 

 which I have examined which were not described in the 

 article referred to. 



First, however, I would call attention to the fact that 

 Dr. Ticehurst appears to have overlooked the presence of 

 down in the femoral tract of the nestling Swallow (Hirundo 

 rustica). I have examined two broods of these birds, and 

 found down in this tract moderately well developed in all the 

 young. 



WHINCHAT Pratincola rubetra (L.). 

 Down. Colour. — Grey. 



Distribution. — Inner supra-orbital, occipital, humeral and 



spinal. 

 Coloration op Mouth. Inside, lemon-yellow ; no spots. 



BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla (L.). 

 Down. Absent. 



REED-WARBLER Acrocephalus streperus (Vieill.). 



Down. Absent. 



Coloration of Mouth. Inside, orange ; black tongue 

 spurs. 



TREE-PIPIT Anthus trivialis (L.). 



Down. Colour. — Dark grey. 

 Distribution. — Inner and outer supra-orbital, occipital, 

 humeral, spinal, ulnar, femoral and crural. 



