2 
black beustakt. 
travelling on towards the west. But one or two have co.ne under my notice in the spring : it is probable these 
Eedstarts follow a different course when returning to their hreedmg-quarters. 
The bird occasionally referred to as the Grey Redstart {Huticilla car^^) is without doubt the immature of 
this species. At what age tlie perfectly a lult plumage is assumed appears, from the oliservations I made, 
somewhat doubtful. I have remarked males showing a small quantity of black feathers about t le lead and 
breast as early as the latter end of October ; and numbers without any signs of such marking were procured 
throuo-h the greater part of November. In 1873 and the two following years I shot several of these birds in 
thp endeavour to learn their various changes. Thougli males were obtained in four distinct states of plumage, 
I could form no decided opinion as to the ages of the two intermediate stages. 
The young males of the year appear in much the same dress as the females. Some I procured were of a 
more uniform grey tinge. _ r i i n 
The second stage was in almost similar plumage, but exhibited a slight indication of the black leathers 
about the head and breast. 
The third stage showed the same amount of black as the adult males ; but the white feathers on the wing 
were wanting. 
The old males with the perfect black markings and a well-defined white patch on the wing were by far the 
most scarce. 1 never detected a single specimen wdth wdiite on the wdng, unless in the dress of the perfect 
adult male. I conclude this species must be at least two or three years in attaining the lull plumage. 
The Plate shows an adult male, shot along the chalk cliffs near Rottiugdeau, on October 13, 1873 , also a 
male in wLat I take to be the last stage before assuming the perfect plumage : this specimen was obtained near 
the same spot ten days later. 
