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base of the tail white ; the rest dusky 
brown, but whitish at the end ; quills 
dusky brown ; feet yellowish or livid white ; 
beak black, but livid at its base ; naked 
circle round the eyes brown. 
After the first autumnal moulting, some 
feathers of a pure bluish ash-colour, mixed 
with brown ones having yellowish borders, 
make their appearance upon the back 5 
the head streaked with brown upon a 
white ground ; all the under parts assume 
more white ; base of the beak livid blue 
ash-colour, and the points dusky. 
At the age of one year, after the se- 
cond autumnal moulting, there commonly 
remains only a narrow brownish band to- 
wards the end of the tail, and a little dusky 
brown about the middle of the back. The 
plumage is complete at the second spring 
moulting. In one or other of the two last 
liveries it is the Lams Hybernus of Gmelin, 
and Winter Mew of authors. 
The old birds, in perfect winter plumage, 
have the head, back, and sides of the neck 
white, but interspersed with numerous 
dusky brown spots; throat, all the inferior 
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