398 BRITISH BIRDS. 



FEMALE. Resembles that of the First Winter-Plumage, but the 

 tint of the upperside is usually slightly greyer including the lesser 

 wing-coverts, while the edging on the greater wing-coverts is not so 

 pronounced. 



Adult Summer-Plumage. Acquired by the same pro- 

 cesses as the First Summer-Plumage. 



MALE. Differs from that of the First Summer-Plumage by the 

 greater wing-coverts having some French grey instead of being all brown ; 

 and by the mantle and scapulars having all the (narrow) brown tips 

 worn off, and so being of a purer grey. 



N.B. — The amount of white on the forehead varies both in the First 

 and Adult Summer-Plumages. 



FEMALE. Scarcely distinguishable from that of the First Summer- 

 Plumage, but the wing-coverts are often greyer. 



N.B. — Some females in Winter-Plumage show more white on the 

 base of the feathers of the forehead than usual, and have in addition 

 a variable amount of blackish concealed markings on the feathers of 

 the throat, while the breast and flanks are of a much richer orange-buff 

 with whitish edgings. The under wing-coverts and axillaries are also 

 usually of a darker buff. By the wearing of the edges of the feathers these 

 females have in the Summer-Plumage the white on the forehead 

 visible, as also the blackish markings on the throat, and the breast 

 and flanks are more or less uniform orange-buff ; the colours of the 

 breast and throat, however, are never so intense as in the male, and the 

 white on the forehead is never so extensive or pure. This plumage 

 may be that of very old birds, as was suggested by Yarrell in his 

 " British Birds " (first edition, Vol. I., p. 240), and is apparently the 

 same as that described by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., in the " Transactions 

 of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society " (January 26th, 

 1886) as a " Female Redstart assuming the plumage of the male." 



