296 DWIGHT 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by a nearly complete 

 prenuptial moult, as indicated by the relative freshness of May 

 specimens and proved by others taken April 1 5th in Texas. 

 Limited material indicates that only a few of the outer primaries 

 are renewed in some cases, the same thing occurring in other 

 species. This plumage is much like the last, with perhaps less 

 barring, and shows considerable wear later. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult in August. Indistinguishable from the first 

 winter probably averaging richer in its tints. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by a complete or 

 nearly complete prenuptial moult as in the young bird. 



Female. — The sexes are alike and the moults are the same. 



Cistothorus palustris (Wils.). Long-billed Marsh Wren 



1. Natal Down. White (plate V, fig. 2). 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Crown, nape and part of back brownish black, a few faint white lines on the 

 nape ; the scapularies, rump and upper tail coverts Prout's-brown often russet 

 tinged. Wings and tail dull black, the tail barred, the tertiary edgings mostly 

 black, the coverts and secondaries brownish edged, the primaries paler with 

 indications of barring. Sides of head dusky ; a faint whitish superciliary line. 

 Below, white, washed on sides of breast and flanks and on crissum with pale 

 cinnamon. Bill and feet dusky pinkish buff becoming dusky. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by a partial postju venal 

 moult, beginning about the middle of August, which involves 

 the body plumages, the wing coverts, and the tertiaries, but not 

 the rest of the wings nor the tail, young and old becoming 

 practically indistinguishable. This plumage may easily be mis- 

 taken for the Juvenal. 



Similar to previous plumage, but the brown rustier above, a brown median line divid- 

 ing the black crown ; the anterior part of the back is black with distinct white 

 streaking ; the superciliary line white ; the tertiaries duskier and more mottled. 

 Below, the cinnamon wash is deeper with sometimes a pectoral band and there 

 is obscure whitish and dusky barring on the sides, the crissum distinctly barred. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by a complete prenup- 

 tial moult as indicated by the relatively unworn condition of 



