174 D WIGHT 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear which pro- 

 duces a plumage largely bright rosy carmine decidedly brighter 

 to the eye than the winter dress. The explanation of this evi- 

 dent color change is, however, very simple. There is no pig- 

 mentary change, the brightening being wholly an optical delu- 

 sion. Under a glass of even moderate power it will be seen that 

 the whitish barbules of the reddish feathers of the winter dress 

 especially of the head and throat have worn away, leaving the 

 resistant carmine barbs bare and glistening. The remaining bar- 

 bules show as hoary spots and in winter plumage, of course, the 

 whole effect is hoary. This explanation, although at variance 

 with that offered by other writers is unquestionably the correct 

 one, and plate VII, figs. 1 and 2 show the change unmistaka- 

 bly. The bases of the feathers of this species are dusky, and 

 often show when the plumage is much worn or even disarranged. 

 Wear is considerable by the end of the breeding season and loss 

 of edgings helps intensify the reddish tints. 



In captivity pink adults assume golden or bronzed feathers at 

 their first moult, never reassuming the pink dress. It is prob- 

 able that some ingredient of their food when in the wild state 

 is lacking and a deficiency of pigment results. 



Female. — In natal down, juvenal, first winter and first nuptial 

 plumages indistinguishable from the male and later plumages 

 are brown streaked like the immature male. The moults cor- 

 respond to those of the male. 



Loxia curvirostra minor (Brehm). American Crossbill 



1. Natal Down. No specimen seen. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult 



Above, streaked with olive-brown, the feathers with whitish edgings, an olive-green 

 tinge on the back and pale buff on the rump. Wings and tail clove-brown the 

 feathers faintly edged with pale buff sometimes greenish tinged. Below, dull 

 grayish white thickly streaked with olive-brown. Bill and feet olive-gray, 

 black when older. The mandibles do not cross at first but in about three weeks 

 deflect as they grow to the right or left indifferently. 



3. P'lRST Winter Plumage acquired by a partial postjuvenal 

 moult which involves the body plumage but neither the wings 



