Vol. II, Pt. I] GIFFORD— BIRDS OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS 15 



is apparently the beginning of the breeding-season of this 

 species there. 



A male taken on Seymour Island, on November 22, shows 

 wear, but the feathers of the breast seem to be fresh, and 

 among them are a few just bursting from the sheath. A few 

 pin-feathers are to be found among the scapulars. 



All of the December and January specimens from James 

 Island show a mixture of fresh and somewhat worn feathers 

 in the body-plumage. In some specimens a few new brown 

 feathers are just appearing from their sheaths in the anterior 

 part of the brown mantle, and other new feathers are appear- 

 ing in the sides of the breast. There is perhaps a prenuptial 

 renewal of feathers in certain tracts, as apparently indicated 

 by the above facts, for the specimens were obviously taken 

 before the breeding-season; or else they indicate a somewhat 

 belated postnuptial moult. Age may also be a factor. Three 

 August specimens are very much worn. 



The results of an examination of sixty-three specimens from 

 Indefatigable Island, taken in November, 1905, and in Janu- 

 ary and July, 1906, may be summarized as follows : 



November specimens, as a rule, show a mixture of fresh 

 and somewhat worn feathers. Pin-feathers are appearing in 

 the anterior part of the brown mantle in a few specimens. 

 Some also show new feathers in the breast as well as in the 

 back. An occasional specimen, such as No. 271, seems to be 

 in entirely fresh plumage, including wing-coverts, which in 

 practically all other specimens seem to show wear. Whether 

 the new feathers, which are appearing in some, are the last 

 of a postnuptial moult or the first of a prenuptial moult, is 

 difficult to say. Again I am unable to tell what part age plays 

 in the scheme of moults. 



With one exception, twenty-seven specimens from Inde- 

 fatigable Island, taken in January, exhibit no signs of moult; 

 but all show wear in varying degree. These specimens are 

 evidently in about the same category as the three specimens 

 from Abingdon Island^ above mentioned. The one exception 

 has pin-feathers in the back and in the sides of the breast. 



Specimens from Indefatigable Island, taken in July, are as- 

 suming fresh plumage, and in most cases pin-feathers are still 

 in evidence in the back and in the breast. In the majority of 

 cases the new dress has been quite completely donned. 



