Plumages of the Common Moorhen. 301 



rule, and this is borne out by a specimen shot at Sandford 

 on the 4th of February, 1878, by Dr. R. B, Shai'pe, which 

 shows only the merest indication of the adult coloration on 

 tlie beak and shield. 



In July the soft parts are even more bright, especially the 

 red-orange on the tibia. This July bird aud the August 

 one are very woru^ and have lost most of the ashy brown, 

 thus more nearly approaching adult birds taken in the same 

 months; but the white throat is still distinct. 



One of the August birds is starting the moult, but has not 

 yet dropped the wings and tail, and the other is iu the full 

 " flapper " state, and is rapidly assuming the full adult 

 dress (3rd plumage), though the white on the throat is still 

 apparent. 



Soft parts : Irides crimson or reddish brown ; bill red at 

 the base, greenish yellow at tip ; legs and toes green^ orange 

 or red on tibia. 



(4) ^rd plumage (adult). — The adult plumage, which is 

 attained in the second August wdien the birds are fifteen 

 months old, needs no describing, except to say that there is 

 no trace of white on the throat; the head and neck are dark 

 slaty grey, and the flank-stripes are white. The amount 

 of white on thfe abdomen seems variable and is probably 

 individual. In all the adults before me there is more or 

 less fulvous on the white under tail-coverts, so that this is 

 not a character of the immature bird. 



The annual moult of the adult takes place in August 

 and September. Of the August birds, one has assumed the 

 new wings and tail, but is still moulting on the body and 

 head, and the others are all in the '' flapper" state, one 

 completely lacks the flight- and tail-feathers and the others 

 are assuming them all together (text-fig. 3), and thus pre- 

 senting the appearance of young birds donning their first 

 dress. 



The one September bird before me is also moulting, 

 though the flight-feathers have not yet been dropped and 

 are very worn. 



From October onwards the birds are not moulting, and, 



