ON DRYMOIPUS INORNATUS, Sykes, AND DRYMOIPUS, ETC. 295 



©it §wmw iuitmtw, g%fo$, hu& grp^ips k\x- 

 fiinuiktus, CickU 



By W. Edwin Brooks. 

 Having studied these two little birds for some years, and 

 having procured a large series shot during every month of the 

 year, I am forced to the conclusion that they are identical, 

 longicaudatus being the winter plumage of inornatus. 



When the pale grey and white inornatus moults in the autumn, 

 the new quill and tail feathers are of quite a different color from 

 those of the breeding plumage, when the latter is first acquir- 

 ed ; the autumnal color of the quills being dark brown, with 

 broad rufous edges, while the tail-feathers are dark brown, 

 rufous towards the edges, and obsoletely cross-rayed. Above the 

 tail appears unicolorous, but from below there is a sub-ter- 

 minal dark brown or almost blackish spot visible, and beyond 

 this dark spot there is a very pale brown tip. This tip is by 

 no means whitish like the tip of the summer tail. The body 

 plumage in autumn is much tinged with rufous, and the lower 

 surface exceedingly so, especially towards the flanks aud lower 

 tail-coverts. The bird is then in longicaudatus plumage ; and it 

 should also be noticed that the new autumnal tail is a longer one 

 than that of the breeding plumage. 



In March and April the spring moult takes place. The lower 

 plumage, from chin to abdomen, becomes almost silvery white, 

 while the flanks and lower abdomen, together with lower tail-co- 

 verts, retain a faint fulvous tinge ; the new quill feathers are grey- 

 ish brown with greyish white edges, and the new tail feathers are 

 of a shade lighter greyish brown, with pale edges ; there is a sub- 

 terminal dark spot, quite visible from above, and the tip of the 

 feather is dull greyish white, which can also be seen from above. 

 The upper plumage is greyer than in winter, or more of an 

 ashy brown, the feathers of the head having their centres rather 

 darker, so as to present a slightly mottled appearance. The 

 bill also becomes very dark, or quite black, except towards 

 base of lower mandible; and the inside of the mouth, which is 

 flesh coloured or yellowish during the winter, becomes, in the 

 male, of a dark purple brown color or nearly black ; upon the 

 whole, a more complete transformation of a small bird could 

 not take place. 



The light tips to the tail wear away, and towards the close 

 of a season are not often to be observed. 



By B. inornatus I mean the bird that Mr. Hume has named D. 

 terricolor as being distinct from D. inornatus of Southern India. 

 I have neither seen Southern nor Western examples, but I think 



