468 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
gray (pallid neutral gray, sometimes approaching pale neutral gray), 
the outer web of outermost primary darker gray ; inner webs of prima- 
ries with a deep or dark gray broad stripe next to shaft, this dark 
gray continued across tips and for some distance along inner edge, 
the remainder white; tail grayish white, more or less tinged with pale 
gray; bill orange or reddish orange; iris dark brown; legs and feet 
black. 
Adults in post-nuptial plumage.~—Similar to the above but whole 
forehead and fore part of crown white, only the occipital crest, nape, 
and posterior portion of crown being black. . 
Adults in winter—Similar to the post-nuptial(?) plumage, but 
black of occiput and nape also intermixed, more or less, with white, 
and bill paler orange. 
Young.—Somewhat like winter adults, but upper parts sparsely 
spotted with dusky grayish brown, these spots largest on tertials; 
rectrices deep grayish brown or dusky subterminally; pileum speckled 
or flecked with white or dusky, the occipital crest but slightly de- 
veloped. 
Downy young.—Pale creamy buff, fading into white on chest, 
breast, and abdomen; upper parts streaked or irregularly flecked 
with black; bill pale yellowish or dull ivory whitish, more horn colored 
at tip; legs and feet grayish. 
Adult male.—Wing, 360-382’ (371); tail, 147.5-192 (171.9) ; exposed 
culmen, 59-68 (64.1); tarsus, 29.5-34.5 (31.8); middle toe, 25-28 
(26.8)° 
Adult female.—Wing, 357-393 (374); tail, 130-196.5 (167.5); ex- 
posed culmen, 57.5-67 (62.7); tarsus, 30-34.5 (32.6); middle toe, 
24.5-28.5 (27.1).° 
@ This species, sometimes at least, breeds in this plumage, which indeed, may be 
the true breeding plumage. A colony of several thousand pairs which I found breed- 
ing (the eggs freshly laid) on Cobbs Island, Virginia, early in July, 1880, consisted of 
birds which were all, so far as could be determined, with white forehead and fore crown. 
6 Ten specimens. 
= Kighteen specimens. 
Locality. Wing. | Tail. | Cb .| parsus,| Middle 
MALES. 
Three adult males from Virginia and South Carolina........... 372 183. 8 66.7 | 32.7 27.7 
One adult male from Bahamas (Andros Island, June).......... 371 181.5 59 29.5 25.5 
Three adult males from Lower California (January, August)...| 366.7} 153.5 64. 8 34.3 27.2 
One adult male from Tres Marias Islands (May 31)............. 374 186 66.5 34 27.5 
Two adult males from Yucatan (Arcas Keys, June)............ 374.5 | 170 60. 5 31.7 25.5 
FEMALES, 
Nine adult females from Virginia to Florida...-............... 369.9 | 166.9 61.7 31.8 27.1 
One adult female from Cuba (Mariel, May 11)..............2.-- 367 189 61 31 24.5 
Three adult females from southern California.................. 384.3 | 164.2 64.3 33.7 27.3 
Three adult females from Lower California (January, August)... 373.3 | 160.3 64.2 34 27.3 
Two adult females from Sinaloa (Mazatlan, March)............ 381.5 | 175 63 33.5 27.7 
