Vol. xvi.] 64 



species as well as in Emherizn favrvpntris and E. frtvic/astra, 

 but he had been unable to detect them in other species 

 of Buntings. He had, however, noticed that filo-plmnes 

 projected beyond the feathers on the nape of the Goldlinch, 

 thouo^h not so conspicuously as in the specimen exhibited, 

 and he had no doubt that they were present in other birds 

 and had some significance. Captain A. E. Hamerton, who 

 had shot the specimen exhibited, had pointed out these 

 hlo-plumes to Mr. Witherby, and had remarked that they 

 were very conspicuous when the bird was alive. 



Mr. Pycraft pointed out that filo-plumes were present in 

 all birds, but that they rarely projected beyond the contour- 

 feathers. They did so in the Cormorant and other 

 species, and no doubt had a decorative significance. 



Mr. BoNHOTE exhibited and made some remarks on the 

 Shoveler {Spatula dypeata), pointing- out that this species 

 of duck differed, so far as he knew, from all others, 

 the drakes having- an intermediate plumage between that of 

 the eclipse and the full breeding-plumage of the following 

 year. 



This plumage might be recognised from the following 

 points : — 



(1) The head was of a uniform dark brown, much darker 

 than that of the eclipse and showing no metallic gloss. 



(2) The feathers of the chest (pure white in the full 

 plmnage and dark brown with lighter edgings in the 

 eclipse) in the intermediate plumage were white, with dark 

 brown bars and a buff margin. 



This plumage was generally considered as that worn b}' 

 young birds during their first winter ; this, however, was 

 not the case, Mr. Bonhote having had fully adult birds 

 under observation throughout the year. Though the inter- 

 mediate plumage was assumed by birds in their first year, 

 they were always distinguishable from the adult by the 

 following characters : — 



(1) The head did not become of so dark a brown, but 

 moulted straight into metallic green in its first spring. 



