304 A SPRING AND SUMMER IN LAPLAND. 



the first autumnal moult. In tlie year 1863 I 

 obtained the males breeding in tlie same woods in 

 three different dresses — 1st, in tlie early striped 

 dress above described (these were evidently birds 

 of the year) ; 2ndly, in this orange-red dress ; and, 

 3rdly, in the deep-red dress. 



I am at present of opinion that this orange-red 

 dress is a transition gradually assumed between 

 the first autumnal dress and the deep-red plumage 

 in which we usually see the male crossbill depicted, 

 and which I consider their standard livery, and worn 

 by them longer than any other. 



I may remark, however, that in our forests we 

 meet with far more of the deep-red birds than of 

 these orange-plumage males. 



Respecting the bright yellow-green dress which 

 the old male crossbills occasionally assume (but 

 which, although so rare that we very seldom 

 meet with it, we must nevertheless still consider 

 as normal), it is hard to say at what age it is 

 assumed, but- we may reasonably infer at a very 

 advanced period of life in a state of nature; 

 though it is said that as soon as either a male 

 crossbill or grosbeak is confined in a cage, it 

 changes from red to bright yellow-green at once, 

 and this colour it wears till it dies. This may or 

 may not be the effect of confinement, but as I 

 have killed the old birds of both in this yellow- 



