38 DR. C. G. SELIGMANN AND MR. S. G. SHATTOCK ON THE 
(B.) The Results of Castration when performed on Birds 
whilst in Eclipse Plumage. 
(No. 11.) Bird in almost full eclipse plumage; castrated in 
July 1907. The head was in full eclipse, except that a few 
feathers on the side of the face showed a greenish gloss. The 
whole of the breast was in complete eclipse, with young eclipse 
feathers coming through in the anterior part. There were a few 
vermiculated feathers at the base of the neck behind. The 
primaries and secondaries had been shed from both wings, and 
there were no curl feathers in the tail, though a little gloss 
remained on the tail-coverts. The testes removed were about 
22mm. by 8 mm. in diameters, yellow in colour and firm on 
section. 
September 17th, 1907.—The head has passed into almost com- 
plete winter plumage, although a few brown feathers are still 
present. The upper part of the chestnut area of the breast is in 
full winter plumage, though a considerable number of eclipse 
feathers are still present in the lower part of it. The grey 
portion of the breast and the abdomen are almost entirely 
vermiculated, though a few eclipse feathers are still present. 
Over the area plucked for operation in July the feathers are only 
faintly vermiculated and are ofa greyish brown. There are two 
good curl feathers in the tail. 
November 8th, 1907.—The bird was in full winter plumage, 
with four curl feathers in the tail. It was now killed. A graft 
the size of a small haricot was found at the site of the right 
testis. 
(No. 12.) Bird in almost full eclipse; castrated July 1907. 
The testes were about 22 mm. by 8 mm. in diameters; pale 
yellow in colour and firm on section. The head is in almost 
complete eclipse, only the slightest glossiness persisting at the 
vertex. The chestnut area of the breast is in complete eclipse, 
with a few eclipse feathers still coming through the down; the 
rest of the breast is predominantly eclipse, although a few of 
the old vermiculated feathers persist. On the flanks there are 
both vermiculated and eclipse feathers. The wing-feathers have 
not been shed; there are no curl feathers in the tail. A good 
deal of gloss persists upon the upper tail-coverts and the feathers 
of the saddle. 
September 17th, 1907.—The condition of this bird resembles 
that of the preceding (No. 11), with the following exceptions :— 
The head is not quite so advanced towards winter plumage, and 
the ring on the neck is not so well marked; there are fewer 
eclipse feathers in the lower part of the chestnut area; and there 
are three curl feathers in the tail. 
November 8th, 1907.—Bird in full male plumage, with four 
curl feathers in the tail. It was now killed; at the site of the 
right testis there were three small grafts, one about the size of 
