Notes on the Plumage of North American Birds 223 



especially below, margined with grayish, the wing-coverts and inner quills 

 with white. 



With the advance of the season these markings disappear, and by the follow- 

 ing summer young and old are essentially alike. 



Bohemian Waxwing {Bombycilla garrula, Figs. 3,4). — In general appearance 

 the nestling of this species differs from the adult much as the young of the Cedar 

 Waxwing does. In the single specimen seen (Biological Survey, No. 165, 808, 

 Yukon River, July 29, 1899. W. H. Osgood) the wings have red tips and in 

 their yellow-and-white markings resemble those of the average adult. It is 

 evident that this is not always the case, since some specimens, in what is other- 

 wise adult plumage, are without either red tips or yellow markings on the wing- 

 quills. 



According to D wight, the postjuvenal molt "involves the body plumage 

 and wing-coverts, but not the remiges or rectrices." 



The well-developed plumage of the nestling above mentioned indicates 

 that the first winter dress cannot certainly be distinguished from that of the 

 adult, and also that the character of the wing-markings is individual rather 

 than due to age. It is shown at its full development in Fig. 3, but specimens 

 having only narrow white tips on the wing feathers, as in Fig. 4, are not in- 

 frequent. 



There is no spring molt and, as with the Cedar Waxwing, the slight difference 

 between winter and summer plumage is due to wear and fading. 



In addition to its larger size, the Bohemian Waxwing differs from the Cedar 

 Waxwing in its generally grayer underparts, the abdomen being like the lower 

 breast and not yellow; chestnut under tail-coverts, white wing- markings and, 

 usually, blacker throat ; all differences sufficientl}^ pronounced to be observ- 

 able in life. 



Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum, Figs. 5, 6). — The sexes of this beauti- 

 ful bird are alike in plumage, but the young, on leaving the nest, have a smaller 

 crest and wear a dress easily distinguishable from that of their parents. As 

 Fuertes' drawing shows (Fig. 6) , this nestling or juvenal plumage, is decidedly 

 streaked with whitish. The streaks are more pronounced below than on the 

 back, the abdomen is whitish instead of yellow, and there is less black about 

 the bill than in the adult. As a rule the secondaries are without the 'wax' tips, 

 but rarely traces of them appear. 



At the postjuvenal or fall molt, all but the tail and main wing-feathers of 

 this plumage are shed and the winter plumage is acquired. This is similar to 

 that of the adult, but it is probable that the size and number of the 'wax' wing- 

 tips increase with age, while the occasional presence of these appendages on 

 the tail-feathers possibly indicates advanced age, though it may be due to 

 exceptional vigor of the individual possessing them. 



There is no spring molt, and the slight differences between winter and 

 summer plumage are due to wear and fading. 



