37 



with ashy-brown oeiitrea, a broad white collar around the neck behind, 

 and Ihe band across the breast brownish or ashy-plumbeous, instead of 

 black, From a speciqien in my collection obtained at N^antucket, Mass., 

 September 22, 1875, Mr. Ridgway's western variety of this species cannot 

 possibly be ntaintained, A large proportion of our New England Coast 

 gpeciBjeiJs have the breast band continiioijs, and in several that I hayie 

 P3£ai9iae4 it is as broadly so as in the s)appose4 variety eircumcineta. 



117. Philohela minor. 



Downy stage : chick a few days old. General ground-color warm buff, 

 tinged above vith ashy. Large areas of rich seal-brown occur upon the 

 crown, back, and sides of the breast, while spots, blotches, apd angular 

 stripes of a lighter shade of the sajpe cplor diversify most ,of the remaining 

 surface. The throat and pejitral portions of the breast and abdomen are, 

 however, immaculate. From a specimen in my oojlection taken at Lexing- 

 tpii, Mass., May, I8e9. 



First ply,rmge : male, Groupdrcolor abovp brownish-ashy ; forehead 

 $nd broad band around the neck behind iiiyzQaculate, Crown brownish- 

 black, crossed by two narrow transverse bands of fulyons. A fe^ of thp 

 scapulars and the fftayhera <)f the back generally, with v&TJ dark brown 

 centres. Chin brownish-yellow. Throat arid sides of neck brownish-ashy, 

 paler than that on the upper parts. Kest of the under surface yejlowish- 

 rufpus, palest on the breast and body anteriorly, much richer and redder on 

 tlie lower abdominal and anal regions. From a speciinen in my cabinet 

 shot at Cambridge, Mass., July 3, 1872. The plumage above described is 

 the characteristic one of the young bird in summer. It is yforn up to about 

 the middle of August, when the moult — which with this species is unusu- 

 ally protracted — takes place. A.dults and young moult about the same 

 time, and with both the wing and tail feathers are changed with the rest 

 of the plumage. Autumnal specimens are much more richly colored than 



spring adults. 



118. Hallns virginianus. 



Dawny stage : chick about a week old. Entirely clothed in long, rather 

 coarse, glossy, or blue-black down. Bill nearly straight, .72 inches long, 

 yellowish at tip and base, crossed in the middle by a broad black band. 

 From two specimens in my cabinet colkcted by Mr, D. C. French, at Con- 

 cord, Mass., June, 1870. 



First plumage : female. Top and sides of head, neck behind, back an- 

 teriorly, rump, breast, and sides, dull dead black. Interscapular region 

 black, with a few of the feathers margined with brownishTolive. Wingf 

 coverts and wings nearly as in adult, a little duller and darker perhaps. 

 Superciliary line obscure ashy. Throat ashy-white, finely spotted with 

 black. Central region of lower breast and abdomen, with a few of the 

 feathers on the sides, tinged with white. Anal region and crisswm dull 

 reddish-rchestnut. In my cabinet, from Cambridge, Mass,, August, 1875. 



