The Zoologist— August, 1866. 329 



wrote in great haste at the time, in a strong gale in the cabin of 

 a trawler, and while italicizing must have drawn my pen unequally 

 through instead of under the words. So incessant are the transmuta- 

 tions and fadings of the feathers of the immature shag that I find, for 

 the thorough practical ornithologist, I have hardly detailed closely 

 enough the second and third summer plumages of the bird ; but with 

 the following additions to my first letter I flatter myself that no future 

 writer can be more exact. 



After No. 8. Second Summer. One year old. — June. 



Add No. 83-. Second Summer. One year old. — June. Though 

 healthy birds, by the middle of June, have generally changed the 

 plumage of the back, scapulai's, shoulders and rump, yet in many 

 cases some of the first winter feathers, worn to skeletons, still remain, 

 and again in others none of the under parts have by this time begun 

 to fall out. This class can be confounded with no other age. (In 

 collection). 



No Bg^. Second Summer. One year old. — June. Since October 

 a constant transmutation and fading of the feathers have been going on 

 (Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8), till, bj' the middle or latter end of June, the feathers 

 after living a year fall from the bird. From the middle of June many new 

 feathers have come through the old plumage and by moult. The new 

 feathers are like the adult in the back, scapulars and rump ; those of 

 first winter that transmuted from February to the adult colour are now 

 very faded and generally fringed with tawny, and those that never 

 transmuted are uniform dirty brown. In the wing-coverts the new 

 feathers are like the adult's, but fringed with tawny from the pen. 

 The new feathers of the under parts are mouse-colour, often with 

 tawny fringe. (In collection). This plumage is very transient and 

 fades very quickly. 



No. 8f . By end of July and beginning of August this moult is 

 over, and the feathers first moulted very faded. 



Now No. 9. Second Autumn. October. 



After No. 13. Second Spring. May. — 



Add No. 13^. Second Spring. — End of May. A very faded 

 addition of the adult, and easily known from it at a glance by the 

 dingy under parts, often by the white chin still, rarely by a pale 

 vent, frequentlj' by the bare flesh at bill not yet turned black. 



No. ISg-. Third Summer. — June. Much more faded than in May; 

 the under parts have faded to blackish brown, and even mouse-colour, 

 sometimes the fringes have become tawny and the vent grayish. The 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. I. 2 U 



