C. B. TICEHURST: PLUMAGES. 395 



varying amount of black on the inner webs, the innermost feather 

 pure white, the rest as in the First Winter-Plumage, but with the 

 edges and tips worn ; median wing-coverts, a varying number, usually 

 the innermost of the series, are renewed and are white with varying 

 amount of black, the rest as in the First Winter r Plumage, but with 

 the edges and tips worn ; lesser wing-coverts, usually the innermost of 

 the series (sometimes all) are renewed and are black and white, the 

 innermost pure white, the outer ones mostly black, making with the 

 inner greater and median wing-coverts a conspicuous white wing-patch. 



N.B. — Before this plumage is moulted the under-parts become much 

 paler. 



FEMALE. The upperside with the edgings of the feathers paler 

 than in fresh Winter-Plumage ; superciliary stripe and line from the 

 base of bill pale buffish-white, more distinct than in the First Winter- 

 Plumage, but not so white as in males or as in adults ; moustachial 

 streak dark brown, surmounting a smaller white patch than in the 

 male ; chin buffish ; throat and breast as a rule less rich rufous-buff than 

 in the male, and usually with some dark spots ; rectrices, remiges, and 

 primary -coverts as in the First Winter-Plumage, but worn ; greater wing- 

 coverts, the innermost one or two renewed and showing white at the base, 

 the rest as in the First Winter-Plumage, but the edges worn ; median 

 wing-coverts, some renewed and black with pale edges, the innermost 

 of the series showing broad white tips ; lesser wing-coverts, variable 

 number, renewed and black with white tips, those not renewed brown. 

 The female therefore shows a white " wing-patch," but it is smaller 

 and less conspicuous than in the male. 



N.B. — The amount of spotting on the breast varies, as does the white 

 " wing-patch " ; in some females the moult in the wing-coverts is 

 confined to a few of the median series, and these consequently show a 

 smaller and less defined " wing-patch." 



Adult Winter- Plumage. Acquired by a complete moult. 



MALE. May be distinguished from that of the First Winter- 

 Plumage by the primary -coverts having the basal two -thirds of the 

 feathers white, making another white " wing-patch " ; the outer 

 greater wing-coverts are blacker, and have the buffish edges to the outer 

 webs and tips paler and narrower, the innermost show more white, 

 as also do the innermost median wing-coverts, some feathers being pure 

 white ; the inner primaries have a greater amount of white at the base 

 than in the First Winter-Plumage. 



FEMALE. May be distinguished from that of the First Winter- 

 Plumage by the primary-coverts being similar to those in the adult male, 

 as also are the outer greater wing-coverts, also the inner two or three 

 feathers are blackish with white bases, but less white than in the male, 

 by the median and lesser wing-coverts being blacker than in the First 

 Winter-Plumage and the edges narrower, the innermost of both series 

 having also some white in the feathers, but not so much as in the adult 

 male. 



N.B. — By the end of January this plumage is much faded and worn 

 in both sexes, and where there are spots on the breast these become 

 more conspicuous. 



Adult Summer- Plumage. Acquired by the same processes 

 as the First Summer-Plumage. 



