Vol. xlii.] 2e 



from the Eastern United States, and a good series of late 

 June and July birds from Spitsbergen. There were odd 

 birds from other localities in the Palsearctic Region, and, 

 with the exception of Alaska, the series is by no means 

 complete. 



I have now examined over 114 birds in breeding-plumage 

 comprising good series from Spitsbergen, Iceland, East and 

 West Greenland, Alaska, N.E. Asia, with a few odd birds 

 from Arctic America, Archangel, Japan, Novaya Zembla, 

 etc. 



The series I examined included all the material in the 

 British Museum and Triug collections, besides 54 birds sent 

 me by Mr. Schiciler of Copenhagen. 



Mr. Iredale only examined one bird from the type-locality. 

 I have seen two, both females. They do not differ in the 

 slightest degree from Spitsbergen birds. But the Spits- 

 bergen birds do differ in the respects mentioned by Mr. 

 Iredale from May birds in very fresh plumage, shot on the 

 East Coast of the United States. This is not to be wondered 

 at, and I consider the race ^''joiirdaini " to be a seasonal 

 difference — neither more nor less. 



My reasons for this are as follows : — A spring migrant 

 from Japan is moulting into breeding-plumage and the new 

 feathers of the upper parts are as red and as broad as the 

 Massachusetts birds, which have also not yet completed 

 their moult. Spring passage migrants from Baring Island 

 and Archangel, and early June birds from Western Green- 

 land and Iceland show similar coloration, simply because 

 they are in unfaded and unworn plumage. There is no 

 difference which coincides with distribution. 



It appears that during June, depending no doubt on the 

 date on which the individual assumed breeding-plumage, 

 the red edgings to the feathers of the upjoer parts rapidly 

 fade to cream, becoming pale cream in July or late June 

 and almost white in early August. This is apparent through- 

 out the circumpolar range of the species. 



This fading is less apparent in a series of 21 West Green- 

 land birds, but these were nearly all obtained in the first 

 half of June when one would not expect much fading or 



