24 



and across the breast with dusky hrown. From a specimen in my cabi- 

 net collected at Cambridge, Mass., July 15, 1872. 



75. Fyrrhuloxia sinuata. 



First pJuTnage : male. Above light ashy-brown, palest on crown and 

 nape: Two rather indistinct wing-bands of fulvous ashy. Crest similar 

 to that of adult, but of a lighter red ; bill much darker than in adult. 

 Breast and sides brownish-ash with a few scattered feathers of faint crim- 

 son on the median line of the breast and abdomen. From a specimen in 

 my collection obtained by Dr. H. B. Butcher on the Rio Grande in Texas, 

 August 29, 1866. This specimen was moulting, and had already acquired 

 many feathers of the fall dress. The red feathers of the crest and under 

 parts would probably be wanting in very young birds. 



76. Pipilo erythrophthalmuB. 



First plumage :- male. Above duU reddish-olive, the feathers of the 

 interscapular region with dusky brown centres. Greater wing-coverts 

 and outer edges of two inner terliaries, deep fulvous. Beneath pale red- 

 dish-brown, deepest upon sides and crissum, shading into brownish-white 

 upon the abdomen, thickly spotted and streaked everywhere (excepting 

 on a small space upon the abdomen) with dull black. From a specimen 

 in my collection shot in Cambridge, Mass., June 21, 1874. In a large 

 series of young in first plumage much individual variation occurs. Some 

 specimens are thickly and finely streaked beneath with dull chestnut in 

 place of black, while the upper parts are dull rufous ; others, taken during 

 the progress of the first moult, exhibit nearly every conceivable variation 

 of marking in reddish-brown, chestnut, white, and black. 



77. Molothrus ater. 



First plumage : female. Above olivaceous-brown, the primaries, secon- 

 daries, greater and middle coverts, and every feather upon the nape and 

 interscapular region, edged with light sugar-brown. Superciliary line 

 and entire under parts delicate brownish-yellow. The throat and lower 

 area of abdomen immaculate ; everywhere else thickly streaked with 

 purplish-drab. From a specimen in my cabinet taken at Cambridge, 

 Mass., August 4, 1875. A male in first plumage differs in being much 

 darker and more thickly streaked beneath. Specimens in process of 

 change into the autumnal plumage are curiously patched and marked 

 with the light brown of thg first plumage and the darker feathers of the 

 fall dress. All the remiges and rectrices are moulted with the rest of th« 

 first plumage during the first moult. 



