ALPINE ACCENTOR. 
197 
In the spring plumage there is some difference in the co¬ 
lours, owing to the wearing away of the edges of the feathers. 
The spots on the tip of the tail-feathers are white instead of ru¬ 
fous ; the feathers of the under parts have lost their white 
edges, and therefore appear redder ; the crescent-shaped spots 
on the throat and breast are no longer perfect: the upper 
parts are of a cleaner ash-colour ; the oblong dark spots on 
the back are become more visible; the white bars on the wings 
are much narrower, and partly lost. 
The female differs little from the male, but she is ratlier 
smaller in size, and her plumage is less bright, less rufous, 
more spotted on the under parts, and more grey on the flanks : 
the spots on the breast are smaller and paler, and the under 
mandible less yellow. 
In young birds the back is frequently much tinged with 
brown ; the beak is horn-colour, with dingy yellow at the 
base : the white edges of the rust-coloured feathers on the 
sides of the breast are so broad, that they nearly cover the 
principal colouring. 
The young birds before the first moult are very different 
from the parents, their whole upper parts being ash-colour, 
with dusky spots ; the throat and breast have no spots, but 
are plain greyish white. 
The egg of this bird measures eleven lines in length, and 
is rather pointed at the smaller end: in colour it is plain 
greenish blue, as represented in the plate, fig. 83. 
