THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 1113 



that of the female. Nearly always, however, the white wing 

 feathers are amongst the earliest to shew themselves. 



Some young birds first moult into the adult black plumage from 

 the breast downwards, having this part wholly glossy black, 

 althoLigh, with the exception of the wings, the rest of the body 

 remains clothed in female garb. Other young males retain their 

 first feathering on the upper parts, but commence to assume the 

 black feathers of the throat as well as that of the lower parts in a 

 lesser degree. One such specimen I have examined has the whole 

 of the upper part in juvenile plumage with the exception of a 

 few white feathers amongst the wing-coverts ; below, from the 

 chin to the breast the black feathers are growing profusely, though 

 there are still a few feathers here and there retaining their original 

 vermiculated appearance ; from the lower breast downwards the 

 whole lower plumage is a soiled white, with a good many black 

 feathers showing all over as well as a few vermiculated on^. 



This young bird is a most interesting one as it would appear 

 that sometimes, whilst the upper breast, neck, head and upper 

 parts assume the adult plumage directly, though by varying 

 degrees ; the plumage of the lower parts goes through a transition 

 stage. The whole of the buff in the bird has been replaced 

 with white, though there are but few of the adult black feathers 

 yet showing. 



The question as to whether the Florican has a separate breeding 

 plumage and changes back again during the autumn moult into 

 a non- breeding, or post-nuptial plumage may, I think, be now 

 decided to the contrary'-. 



Blyth is responsible for the generally accepted theory that the 

 cock-bird changed into a semi-female plumage in autumn 

 which it regained the succeeding spring, and doubtless he had 

 then a good deal of information before him on which to ground his 

 arguments. Blyth writes " Mr. Hodgson is also certainly mistaken 

 in his assertion that the nuptial dress is worn permanently, as we 

 have witnessed the change before described and the subsequent 

 partial removal of the breeding livery, which latter was not well 

 developed in captivity, and have likewise observed the fact in the 

 skins of wild birds.'' Hodgson, on the other hand, says " The 



