210 DENTIROSTRES. 



ther -with the before-mentioned, forms a large white space 

 or spot on the wing. The tail is black ; the outer tail- 

 feathers have white outer webs, which colour extends over 

 the inner web towards the root of the feather, but becomes 

 lost on the outer edge before it reaches the tip of the 

 feather. 



The young male has the spot on the forehead smaller ; 

 the wings have less white, but the tail more, as the second 

 and third side-feathers have a white edge to the basal half of 

 the feathers ; the upper plumage is slate-coloured. 



In the month of July these birds begin to moult, and by 

 the end of August they wear their perfect autumn plumage. 

 If specimens are obtained during the moult, the black feathers 

 and the new grey ones are prettily intermixed. 



The adult male, in autumn or winter feathering, has the 

 wings and tail as in spring, but all the upper plumage is 

 slate-coloured instead of black ; all the under parts are white, 

 but tinged with yellowish-brown on the sides ; the forehead 

 is dull white, and the cheeks dark ash-brown, spotted with 

 white. 



The second moult takes place during their absence in 

 warmer climes, late in the spring. This does not extend to the 

 quill-feathers and tail. Sometimes specimens that arrive in 

 May have not fully completed their moult, and the greater 

 number hardly wear their perfect spring plumage, or, as it 

 is termed, their bridal garments, one month before they begin 

 to moult again. Thus, the differences occasioned by age and 

 sex in this species have given rise to them any varying de- 

 scriptions of different ornithologists. 



The plumage of the adult female in spring resembles 

 much that of the young male, and can only be distinguished 

 by having less white on the wings. The brownish ash-colour 

 of the upper plumage is always somewhat paler or browner, 

 and the under parts dirty white, and tinged on the throat 



