cause, this peculiar stage is so universally characteristic of all specimens 

 (at least, New England ones) taken at this season, that it certainly merits 

 a fuller recognition than it has up to this time received. Five specimens 

 exa,mined, all collected in Massachusetts in May or June. 



12. Farus hudsonicus. 



First 'plumage : female. Above olivaceous-drab, becoming much darker 

 and more dusky on crown. Sides and anal region very pale brownish- 

 rusty. Otherwise like adult. From a specimen in my collection taken 

 at Upton, Me., August 25, 1873. This bird is, strictly speaking, in a 

 transitional stage, having already acquired many feathers of its fall dress. 

 It differs sufficiently, however, from the perfected condition of the autum- 

 nal plumage to merit description under, the above heading. 



13. FaruB rufescens. 



First plumage : male. Pileum, nape, and throat dark sooty-brown ; 

 back dull chestnut, tinged with olive ; sides ashy, washed in places with 

 brownish-chestnut. Otherwise, like adult. From a specimen in my col- 

 lection obtained at Nicasio, Cal., by Mr. C. A. Allen, May 21, 1875. 



14. Sitta canadensis. 



First pUnmage : female. Above ashy with just a shade of blue ; 

 pileum dark ashy ; chin and throat dirty white ; rest of under parts 

 like spring adults, but with a fainter and more general suffusion of 

 rusty. From specimen in my collection taken at Upton, Me., July 31, 

 1874. In "History of Birds of North America" (Vol. I, p. 118) Mr. 

 Kidgway, in giving the specific characters of this species, says : " The. 

 male has the chin white ; rest of under parts, brownish-rusty." Of 

 the female, " beneath paler, more of a muddy white." Now, if I under- 

 stand rightly by this that the breeding plumage of the adult is indicated, 

 I am confident that the description, so far as it relates to the male, is 

 incorrect. From the examination of a large series of specimens, collected 

 in every stage of plumage and at nearly all seasons, I am led to believe 

 that Mr. Ridgway's description is applicable only to the male in full 

 autv/mnal dress, — a mistake most easily committed when it is considered 

 that this plumage is worn through the winter months, or nearly up to 

 the commencement of the breeding season, as is shown by specimens shot 

 on the migration through Massachusetts in April. It will be seen by a 

 comparison of the following descriptions that the brightest plumage is 

 reached in autumnal specimens, a case parallel with that of Parus atrica- 

 pillus. Hence I have judged it best to redescribe the spring or breeding 

 plumage, using Mr. Ridgway's words so far as they are definitely appli- 

 cable. The' autumnal plumage i^ presented, I believe, for the first time. 



Breeding plumage: Adult male. "Above ashy-blue: top of head 

 black : a white line above and a black one through the eye." Entire un- 

 der parts dirty white, tinged very slightly with pale rusty on breast, sides, 



