PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 275 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear which is con- 

 siderable but produces Httle effect except to expose the crown 

 and bring the black streaks below into contrast with the white 

 background. It may be that there is a limited prenuptial moult, 

 but the new feathers occasionally found on April specimens are 

 probably individual renewal scarcely deserving the name of a 

 moult. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete postnup- 

 tial moult in July. Differs inappreciably from first winter, the 

 streaking below perhaps averaging blacker and the orange of 

 the crown deeper. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear as in the 

 young bird. 



Female. — The sexes are practically indistinguishable, the 

 female in first winter plumage usually with a paler median ■ 

 crown stripe. 



Seiurus noveboracensis (Gmel.). Water -Thrush 



1. Natal Down. Deep olive-brown. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, deep olive-brown with cinnamon edgings. ^Yings and tail darker, the co- 

 verts tipped with pale cinnamon. Below, primrose-yellow heavily streaked on 

 the chin and less heavily on the throat, breast and sides with deep olive or 

 clove-bi'own. Indistinct superciliary line and orbital ring buff; transocular 

 stripe dusky. Bill and feet pinkish buff becoming dusky. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by a partial postjuvenal 

 moult, beginning early in July, in eastern Canada, which involves 

 the body plumage and the wing coverts, but not the rest of the 

 wings nor the tail. Young and old become practically indistin- 

 guishable. 



Similar to previous plumage. Above, yellowish olive-brown including wing coverts, 

 without edgings. Below, straw-yellow palest on the crissum, the flanks washed 

 with olive-brown, spotted on the chin and streaked, except on the mid-abdomen 

 and crissum, with black veiled by overlapping whitish edgings. Superciliary 

 stripe and orbital ring pale ochraceous buff ; transocular streak deep olive- 

 brown ; auriculars dusky. 



