148 D WIGHT 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired probably by wear. 

 Pale grayish wing bands are acquired, during the winter absence 

 differences between young and old birds being lost. Old brown- 

 ish wing coverts retained among the new are sometimes found, 

 and the greener, fresher appearance of some of the feathers of 

 the back suggests a possible partial renewal in spring. This 

 species shows more wear than E. flaviventris. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete postnup- 

 tial moult after the birds have passed south . Two specimens (Am. 

 Mus. Nat. Hist., Nos. 42957 and 42959) from Tehuantepec, 

 Mexico, January 9 and 4 respectively, appear to be still in worn 

 adult nuptial dress as compared with two (Nos. 66%J(^ and 

 66Zjy^, March 7 and 26, from Yucatan in fresh plumage. It is 

 perplexing however to find two birds (No. 66881, March 2, and 

 66%'j'^, March 12) from Yucatan in worn plumage with whitish 

 wing bands. It is possible they are all- young birds that 

 originally had the wing bands very pale and they have faded 

 to nearly white before the postjuvenal moult has begun. The 

 difficulties of reaching definite conclusions are well exemplified 

 by this species. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear, which is in- 

 conspicuous. 



Female. — The sexes are alike in plumages and moults. 



ALAUDID^ 



It is pleasant to turn from the puzzling Flycatchers to the 

 Larks represented by the Horned Lark, a widely distributed 

 species in North America and divided into numerous races. All 

 these appear to moult the same, adults undergoing one annual 

 moult and young birds assuming a plumage practically identical 

 with that of adults by a complete postjuvenal moult. Wear 

 takes the place of a prenuptial moult and produces marked 

 effects. The veiled black of breast and head in the fall is 

 brought into prominence in the spring by extensive loss of the 

 buff feather edgings, while during the breeding season birds be- 

 come extremely ragged and worn. 



