1078 The Zoologist — February, 1868. 



still well marked with black, which generally fades to rich brown. 

 The base of the bill becomes more of a yellow-green, the tip still dark. 

 Feet more of a green lead-colour. Mouth orange. 



Third Year. 



Tlrird Winter Plumage. — Very like the adult, but the dark markings 

 extend further down the neck to the shoulders, and are also still 

 marking the sides of the breast. Sometimes the bastard wing and 

 some of the primary coverts are still marked with black : this is not a 

 rule. The bill is gray-green, inclining to lead-colour, sometimes 

 yellow-green, a dark bar across it at the angular knot; about this 

 angle and the tip canary-yellow. Feet greenish lead-colour. 



Fourth Summer Plumage. — As the adult, but that the bill is 

 greenish yellow at the base, the tip brighter yellow, the dark bar 

 sometimes crossing the angle like a cloud, sometimes replaced by a 

 gray shadow. Feet green-gray, tinged with yellow. Sometimes the 

 head and neck retain a few of the mottles of winter. Feathers 

 generally old and worn. 



Fourth Year. 



Fourth Winter Plumage. — Very like the adult, but that the bill is 

 greenish gray at base, sometimes yellowish gray, yellow at the tip; 

 the dark bar crossing the angle is now a mere spot or is represented 

 by a cloud of gray. Feet green-gray, slightly tinged with yellow. 



Fifth Summer Plumage. — Very similar to the adult. Bill yellow, 

 tinged with grayish, at the angle generally of a dull stony tinge. 

 Feet not so yellow as the adult; under parts plain white. 



The irides for these four years are brown, gradually paling each 

 season in colour. 



The primary wing-quills are different to those of the adult till the 

 fifth autumn, after which they closely approximate : I fully describe 

 them in my account of the plumages. 



Fifth Year. 



Fifth Winter Plumage. — No very striking difference from old 

 adults. The yellow of the bill and feet are hardly so bright, and the 

 markings of the head and neck are generally more extended and 

 smudgy. I consider it adult from this time. 



Sixth Summer Plumage. — Identical with the adult at the same 

 season. Breeds this year. It is five years old. 



