The Zoologist— June, 1866. 



255 



No. 7. Link 3. From the middle or latter end of January another 

 transmutation begins. It is very gradual, extending to May and some- 

 times further. It is only on the upper surface of the body The 

 feather now, when fully transmuted, is similar to that of the adult • 

 but, unlike the adults, it is perishable. A description is useless ; it is' 

 merely a mixture of first winter plumage, half transmuted feathers, and 

 those fi.lly turned, which, as I said, are as the adults. The under 

 parts as in first winter. (In collection a bird in iMarch). 



No. 8. Second Summer. One year old.— June. The whole of the 

 upper parts have transmuted, and generally a good many of the win-- 

 coverts. They are now unlike the beautiful rich adult feathers they 

 were when first revived, but are still unlike any other stage, for though 

 brownish they are of a good rich green ; some have a slight frinc^e of 

 brown. When flying the old worn coverts have a very faded look 

 ^eet still the same cream-colour and black. Under parts still as in 

 first winter. Naturally this stage cannot be confounded with any 

 other. In collections the date is sufficient. It assimilates slightly 

 with the second winter in December, but may be known from that 

 stage by the under parts containing none of the dark feathers assumed 

 at that time. 



A ^°j^' ^'*^'^^''''"'^^"'""*"--f« a faded addition of second summer 

 A bird m October h-C/pper Surface. From base of bill along top of 

 head and neck bronze-brown, with a dark green glo.s ; some have 

 and some have not the pale tippings. Shoulders and scapulars bronze- 

 brown ; the green gloss , and the band at end of feather now dislinci • 

 edge of feather well fringed with tawny. Back, r.imp, sides and thighs 

 bronze-brown, with a rich green gloss. Wing-coverts nearly as in 

 first winter. Sides of neck brown, the feathers worn small and lance- 

 shaped, sometimes mixed with blackish green feathers. Under 

 Surface.~Chm while ; vent cream-colour ; throat, breast and belly as 

 in first winter, except that the feathers have become lance-shaped on 

 the breast and throat, and that the collar is scarcely definable from the 

 breast. Bare flesh at bill orange-yellow. Eye pea-green. Feet 

 still the same. Diagnosis. -The italics distinguish this stage from 

 that of first plumage, the only stage it could be confounded with in 

 nature. It is something like first winter, but the two stages do not 

 occur together, so it cannot be confused while in nature : in a collec 

 tion the date is sufficient. By most authors this bird is thought the 

 young of the year, and the great similarity in the under parts must 

 have caused this error. The bright greenish bronze of the upper parts 



