300 Mr. C. H. B. Grant on the Moults and 



The whole of the body and head is in full moult^ but not 

 the wings and tail, which are therefore retained in their 

 first plumage-state through their first winter, spring, and 

 summer up to the following autumnal moult. 



(3) 2nd plumage (Oct. and Nov. till the following Aug.), 

 Above but very slightly different from the adult (third 

 plumage), except back and head, which is olivaceous brown, 

 and some specimens having a tinge of slate intermixed; wings 

 tail not having moulted are as in first plumage : below, chin 

 and throat white, more or less mottled ; neck, chest, and 

 breast paler slate than in the adult, tipped and margined 

 with ashy brown, giving the whole a fulvous appearance, 

 more slaty and more fulvous in some individuals ; belly and 

 abdomen white or whitish ; flanks sooty or slaty brown, 

 in some, flank-stripes white and buff. 



Soft parts in November birds : Irides greyish hazel, some 

 tinged with reddish ; bill greyish brown or dark olive, 

 greenish at tip ; legs and toes green, yellowish on tibia. 



The frontal shield is but very slightly more developed 

 than in the first plumage. 



A month later, in December, the irides are reddish hazel ; 

 bill getting lighter at tip, in one specimen there is a distinct 

 redness on the base of the bill; frontal shield developing. 



In January birds the irides are crimson ; bill bright red, 

 tip bright yellow ; legs dull green, yellow on front of tarsi ; 

 frontal shield well developed. 



By A.pril the irides have become crimson ; bill vermilion or 

 crimson, shading to pure tomato on shield, tip greenish yellow; 

 legs and toes green, with imperfect red or yellow orange ring 

 on tibia. The frontal shield is fully developed. 



Thus it will be seen that with the bird in its second 

 plumage the soft parts gradually change from the first 

 plumage-coloration to that of the adult as the spring 

 advances *. 



One of the April birds is moulting on the head, so that it 

 is possible some individuals do not always follow the general 



* This agrees with what Macgillivray says (c/. ' History of British 

 Birds,' vol. iv. 1852, p. 656), 



