PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 155 



Corvus ossifragus Wils. Fish Crow 



1. Natal Down. No specimen seen. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Body plumage brownish black, wings and tail lustrous black with greenish reflec- 

 tions. Bill and feet grayish black becoming jet black. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by a partial post] u venal 

 moult in July which involves the body plumage and wing coverts 

 but not the rest of the wings nor the tail. The full greenish 

 black glossy plumage, rather bluer than the last, is assumed, 

 old and young becoming indistinguishable. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear which is not 

 very obvious even late in the season. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult. Indistinguishable from first winter dress. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear as in the 

 young bird. 



Female. — The sexes are alike in plumages and moults 



STURNID^ 



Sturnus vulgaris Linn. Starling 



1. Natal Down. Drab-gray. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Everywhere, including wings and tail, brownish mouse-gray, the wings w'ith fawn- 

 colored edgings. Bill and feet pinkish buff. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired during August in New 

 York city by a complete postjuvenal moult. 



Everywhere bottle or purplish green with metallic reflections, the feathers above 

 wath cinnamon terminal spots, smallest on the head, the feathers below with 

 white spots. Wings and tail greenish black edged wath cinnamon, the wing 

 quills having a pale terminal spot bordered with black. 



Young and old become practically indistinguishable, the cin- 

 namon spots and edgings averaging deeper in young birds. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear. A large part 



