Sequence in Moults and Plumages. 515 



Chapman has recently described a white., followed by a 

 brown down, in the American Flamingo (Phoenicoptems ruber), 

 and Mr. Witmer Stone has called attention to two downs in 

 the Snowy Owl (Nyctea nyctea). Mr. Chapman finds a 

 double constriction in the neossoptiles, and on investigation 

 I find a similar condition prevails in the Australian Black 

 Swan and in some of the Owls. 



The second plumage is the juvenal plumage (ptilosis 

 juvenalis), commonly known as the "first," although it is 

 obviously a second. Its feathers have been called mesoptiles, 

 and it is a simple plumage., although sometimes varying greatly 

 in texture and in colour from later plumages of the species. 

 It is worn for a few days or for several months., varying with 

 the species, and it is interesting from many points of view. 

 The one that interests us most at present is the fact that the 

 post- juvenal moult may be either complete or partial, in the 

 latter case compounding the subsequent plumage. 



The third plumage, or stage of plumage, is best called the 

 first winter, and the fourth is the first nuptial plumage. 

 Then follows the fifth, or second winter, and the sixth, or 

 second nuptial plumage, and so the series continues. Every 

 species of bird will fit into a scheme of plumages such as 

 this, but owing to the occurrence or absence of moults and 

 their complete or partial character, the plumage-cycles of 

 species differ. 



The plumage of the first winter, often called the "autumnal," 

 is properly either a simple annual plumage (ptilosis annualis), 

 or a non-nuptial plumage (ptilosis non-nujptialis), which is 

 either simple or compound, according as the post-juvenal moult 

 is complete or partial. There are, therefore, just two 

 plumages for birds during the first winter, with the excep- 

 tion of a few of the Grouse family, like the Ptarmigans, 

 which assume a special protective or tutelar plumage (ptilosis 

 tutelaris) . 



The table shows no less than nine plumage cycles. In 

 cycle A, a simple plumage is worn throughout the year, as 

 exemplified by the Woodpeckers, Swallows., and others — the 

 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), for instance. In cycle B, 

 typified by the Thrushes, the flight-feathers and the tail are 



