Descriptions of First Plumage of Cer- 

 tain North Am, Bbe. Wm, Brewster. 



11. Parus atrlcapillus. 



First plumage: male. Back very dark slate without any tinge of 

 brownish. Beneath salmon-color, faintest on breast, i^ost pronounced on 

 sides and anal region. The black on throat and pileum scarcely less 

 clear than lu adult. From specimen in my collection shot at Concord. 

 Mass., June 17, 1871. 



From about the time of pairing in spring till early autumn this Tit- 

 mouse wears a plumage which has been almost, if not entirely, ignored by 

 writers. The back is clear ashy without any brownish or olivaceous 

 washing except in a few specimens on the rump. The under parts are 

 white, with barely a trace of faintest salmon on the sides of the body ; while 

 the white margining on the remiges is much narrowed and on many of 

 the feathers replaced by ashy. It may be objected that this generally 

 paler condition is due to the wearing of the feathers consequent upon the 

 continual passing of the birds in and out of their nesting cavities, but not 

 all of the specimens before me are in worn plumage ; one pair, taken May 

 12, 1876, being in remarkably perfect dress. At all events, whatever the 

 cause, this peculiar stage is so universally characteristic of all specimens 

 (at least, New England ones) taken at this season, that it certainly merits 

 a fuller recognition than it has up to this time received. Five specimens 

 examined, all collected in Massachusetts in May or June. 



BuliN.O.C. 3. Jan.. 1878, p. jcfzo. 



Albinism «.rtd Malaniem in North J-Tyi 

 American BirdSc Ruthven Dfewas, ' 



Mr. C. J. Maynard has in his possession a Black-capped Titmouse 

 with the two middle tail-feathers white. This is the only instance 

 of albinism occurring among the Paridw of which I have heard. 



BuliN. O.O. 4,Jan,.18 79.p.28 



