244 Bird - Lore 
The first nuptial plumage, according to Dwight, is acquired by a partial 
spring molt of the feathers of the anterior parts of the head, chin and throat, 
which now become black and whitish; but the chestnut nape, and more 
distinctly marked back, are due to a wearing off of the brownish edges of the 
feathers of the winter plumage (Fig. 6). 
The adult male, after the usual complete postnuptial molt, resembles the 
young male in its first winter plumage, and their subsequent plumage changes 
are the same. 
The female, in juvenal plumage, resembles the male in the same plumage; 
but in the first winter plumage, which is acquired by molt, as in the young 
male, she has less, and sometimes no black, on the throat and less rufous 
on the nape. The nuptial plumage is acquired partly by molt and in part 
by wear. 
The Alaskan Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus alascensis) resembles the 
form from northeastern America, but has had the margins to the feathers of 
the back much paler, brownish gray or buffy, the nape, in winter, being 
more buffy. 
THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 
When April sun-and April showers 
Are calling to the sweet spring flowers; 
Or, when October is aglow, 
You'll find him flitting to and fro, 
This midget, clad in olive gray, 
With bright black eyes, who seems to say:— 
“Tf not so busy, I might wait 
To get acquainted; here’s my mate; 
But I must hasten—zee, zee, zec/— 
To catch each tidbit that I see.” 
From branch to branch he flutters past, 
Now up, now down, he darts so fast 
With wings atwinkle, you must peer 
Quite carefully and stand quite near, 
To find, that which from robbers bold 
He guards so well—his crown of gold. 
—Laura E. SMIru. 
