Plumages of the Common Moorhen. 303 



Sexes. — I can see no real difference in colour between the 

 male and female. 



The flank-stripes seem to vary individually, though cer- 

 tainly some males have far broader ones than the females ; 

 I can see no difference in the under tail-coverts. 



Measurements. — On the average the females are slightly 

 smaller than the males both in total length (taken in tlie 

 flesh) and in the wing-measurement ; but this seems to alter 

 somewhat according to the stage the bird happens to be in. 



1st plumage : No males fully Hedged ; females_, length 

 L2^ to 13 inches ; wing 6-2 to 6 9 (157 to 175 mm.). 



2ncl 'plumage: Length, males, 13| to \A\ inches; females, 

 12f to 14^ inches. Wing, males, 6-7 to 7*2 inches (170 to 

 183 mm.); females, 6*4 to 6"8 inches (1G2 to 173 mm.). 



?>rd plumage (adult): Length, males, 14f to 15-^ inches; 

 females, 13f to 14^ inches. Wing, maleS; 6"8 to 7*4 inches 

 (173 to 188 mm.) ; females, Q-Q to 7-0 (167 to 177 mm.). 



Thus with the adult the males average in total length 

 14| inches and the females 14 inches, and in the wing the 

 males average 7'1 inches (180 mm.) and the females 6*8 inches 

 (173 mm.). Also the weight of the males is \2h to 13^ oz. 

 as against 10-1 li oz. in the females. 



Of course, only fully fledged birds have been measured. 



No fixed rules can be laid down as regards moults and 

 changes of plumage, especially where series are compared 

 that are not all killed in the same year, as there can be no 

 doubt that slight variations occur in different years ; but, if 

 one year's series could be compared, I have no hesitation in 

 saying that what I have described would be borne out at 

 least in the main points. 



I have to thank Mr. Ogilvie-Grant for so kindly allowing 

 me access to the National Collection, where I have found a 

 series of some 20 specimens from Great Britain, which, laid 

 out alongside my own series, haA^e considerably helped to 

 bear out the above conclusions ; though there is not one 

 that is in full moult. 



I have only been able to find one specimen in the National 

 Collection that in any way shows this interesting state of 



