74 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



interscapular region and on the breast. The axillaries are 

 dark-shafted and worn, and are evidently retained from the 

 third plumage. Another October specimen from Charles 

 Island is in almost complete fresh fifth plumage, including 

 axillaries, but still shows a good many dark-based feathers in 

 the neck and worn feathers in the back. Four other Charles 

 Island specimens, taken in early October, are in transition 

 also; the two individuals just mentioned, however, give the 

 extremes. It would seem from the second individual, that 

 some specimens at least attain the full adult plumage in latter 

 October or November. Other transition birds, some showing 

 remains of the third plumage in the neck, were taken in Janu- 

 ary, February, May, and July. No. 2196, male, James Island, 

 July 28, is assuming the fifth or adult plumage — new abdomi- 

 nal feathers, axillaries, primaries, upper wing-coverts, and 

 rectrices are appearing, the primaries and rectrices not being 

 full grown. Elsewhere the moult is in progress. The new 

 axillaries have red instead of dusky shafts, a characteristic 

 of the adult bird. Evidently the first loss of the primaries 

 occurs during the moult from the fourth to the adult plumage. 

 One specimen. No. 2225, has an abnormal black feather at 

 the base of the neck; this feather belongs to the fourth 

 plumage. It would seem that the plumage which I call fourth 

 is either the postjuvenal or the first prenuptial, and is obtained 

 by a partial moult. The fifth plumage is evidently the first 

 postbreeding plumage. 



Thirty specimens are fully adult. The feathers of the head 

 and neck have white bases, the axillaries have red instead of 

 black shafts, the body-down is white, and, in some February, 

 July, and August specimens, the lower mandible is tinged with 

 red just posterior to the black of the outer third. These thirty 

 specimens were taken in October, November, December, Janu- 

 ary, February, July, and August. 



Three October specimens from Charles Island are worn, 

 and exhibit feather-growth in the head, 'neck, back, breast, and 

 abdomen. 



No. 2187, Indefatigable Island, November 25, is in worn 

 faded plumage. New feathers, paler than normal, are appear- 

 ing in the head, neck, back, and lower parts. 



