PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 185 



the abdomen paler and the back more distinctly streaked by the 

 same influence. There are few species in which the same color, 

 black, is produced by moult and by wear, but this one illustrates 

 it beautifully and the lines of demarcation between old and new 

 feathers vary according to the individual. When only part of 

 the chin is renewed by moult, the clay-color may be divided from 

 the black by a white band of worn faded feathers. Young and 

 old become practically indistinguishable. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult. Differs from the first winter dress chiefly in the 

 larger areas of black, which often include the chin, and in the 

 richer darker colors especially wing edgings. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult as in the young bird. 



Female. — The plumages and moults correspond to those of 

 the male from which the female is first distinguishable in first 

 winter plumage which is plain wood-brown streaked everywhere 

 with clove-brown, the wing coverts and tertiaries with whitish 

 edgings. The prenuptial moult is limited and in later plumages 

 very little if any of the black throat of the male is acquired. 



Poocaetes gramineus (Gmel.). Vesper Sparrow 



1. Natal Down. No specimen seen. 



2. Juvenal Plu:mage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, including sides of head, wings and tail clove-brown, the effect, streaked 

 owing to the body feathers and wing coverts being dark centrally, bordered 

 with bufty, grayish and whitish edgings. The edgings of the tertiaries and the 

 lesser coverts ("shoulders") are Mar's-brown, those of the greater coverts 

 paler and the feathers tipped with white, those of the secondaries still paler, 

 those of the outer primaries and rectrices dull white ; the outer rectrix largely 

 white. Below, dingy white streaked with clove-brown, heaviest on the jugulum, 

 merely flecked on chin and crissum. Feet and bill pinkish buff darkening little 

 with age. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by a partial postjuvenal 

 moult beginning the latter half of August which involves the 

 body plumage but not the wings nor the tail, young becoming 

 practically indistinguishable from adults. 



