PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 147 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by an incomplete postju- 

 venal moult. Birds became yellower below and greener above, 

 but many, as shown by specimens taken near New York up to 

 September 26, pass south in ju venal plumage. I have seen a 

 few extra-limital specimens, without dates, from Central America. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired probably by wear, 

 which tends to make the plumage paler and brings the dark cen- 

 ters of the crown-feathers into prominence during the breed- 

 ing season. The wing bands are buff-tinged as compared with 

 those of ^. minitnus in corresponding plumage. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete postnup- 

 tial moult after the birds have passed south as proved by Cen- 

 tral American specimens. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired apparently by wear. 

 Female. — The sexes are alike and the moults identical. 



Empidonax minimus (Baird). Least Flycatcher 



1. Natal Down. No specimen seen. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnuptial 

 moult. 



Above, including sides of head, olive-brown, greener on the back, a faint ashy gray 

 collar. Wings and tail deep olive-brown, median and greater coverts edged 

 with pale buff forming two wing bands, secondaries and tertiaries with dull white. 

 Below, grayish white, a smoky gray pectoral band ; pale primrose-yellow on 

 abdomen and crissum. Orbital ring dull white. Bill black, under mandible 

 pinkish buff. Feet sepia, nearly black when older. 



The species in this plumage is not so green above as E. vij'escefis, but browner and 

 ver\^ like E. t. ainorum from which it may be differentiated by its grayer lower 

 parts, somewhat paler wing bands and smaller bill. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by a postjuvenal moult, 

 possibly complete, after the birds have migrated southward. 

 Some specimens become greener above and yellower below be- 

 fore they leave for the south late in August, but others reach 

 southern latitudes in ju venal dress. A bird from Tehuantepec, 

 Mexico (Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., No. 42957), on January 9, still 

 retains the brown wing bands. 



