The Zoologist— February, 1868. 1083 



shaft, more or less ; in 2 the shaft is black ; each of these spots is 

 more or less margined with black at the fringe of the greater web, and 

 sometimes also in the lesser web : 3, 4, 5 have no such spot, but in 4, 

 5, 6, where the black and gray of the feather should meet, there is a 

 more or less distinct cloud of white. In the rest of the quills, 7, 8, 9, 

 10, this cloud and the tip are all in one. The leading colour of 1, 2, 

 3, 4 is black, 3 having no white at all, but from the pen, in all, 

 upwards (towards the tip) gray usurps this colour, increasing in 

 volume consecutively, forming more than half of both webs of 4, and 

 becoming the body colour of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. After the white tip in 

 6 the end is black for about one inch, this constituting nearly all the 

 black in the feather, except at the fringe of the outer web. 7 has 

 always a large or small spot or bar of black on one or both webs at 

 the end ; 8, 9, 10, all gray, ends white. 



Variations — The primary markings are more variable at this than 

 at any other age: but the year is at all times branded on the wing by 

 the dark markings on the coverts. The most frequent variations are 

 noticed in the depth and extent of the white markings. The white 

 spot in 2 is often only apparent in the greater web; 4 and 5 I have 

 rarely seen with incipient white tips ; 8 I have seen with more or less 

 black at the end; 1 not having the shaft while in the spot. The 

 shafts of 1, 2, 3 are black ; in the rest they consecutively become from 

 dark to light horn-colour. Fading and wear frequently change the 

 colour of the dark portions, often making false dirty white tips to the 

 feathers, merely the effect of fade, and as often wearing away the black 

 ends till they become very short. 



No. 10, Link 5. Second Spring Plumage. — Is but a continuation of 

 the winter dress, generally speaking more faded. The orbits are more 

 of a mahogany colour ; the mouth redder and the bill more tinged 

 with yellow. 



No. 11. Third Summer Plumage (June, July). — Very much faded 

 and worn, same as in the winter past, but that many of the spots 

 on the head and neck, and some of the markings of the breast, 

 have either bleached or worn off. The orbits are of a better 

 red, as is also the mouth ; the bill is yellow at the angle and tip. 

 The feet are green lead-colour, tinged on the front with pale stone- 

 colour. 



No. 12, Link 6. Third Summer and Autumn Moult.— Commences 

 as early as June and July, is generally completed by September or 

 October. In the interval between these months the bird is more or 



