in Various Species of North American Birds. 21 
that this plumage is worn through the winter months, or nearly up to 
the commencement of the breeding season, as is shown by specimens shot 
on the migration through Massachusetts in April. It will be seen by a 
comparison of the following descriptions that the brightest plumage is 
reached in autumnal specimens, a case parallel with that of Parus atrica- 
pillus. Hence I have judged it best to redescribe the spring or breeding 
plumage, using Mr. Ridgway’s words so far as they are definitely appli- 
cable. The autumnal plumage is presented, I believe, for the first time. 
Breeding plumage : Adult male. “ Above ashy-blue : top of head 
black : a white line above and a black one through the eye.” Entire un- 
der parts dirty white, tinged very slightly with pale rusty on breast, sides, 
abdomen, and crissum. From specimen in my collection shot at Upton, 
Me., May 31, 1871. 
Adult female. With black of head scarcely duller than in the male : 
beneath similar, perhaps a trifle less rusty. From specimen in my col- 
lection obtained on Muskeget Island, Mass., June 30, 1870. It is very 
possible that this bird represents a development of plumage only excep- 
tionally attained by the female ; I have seen no other specimen of that 
sex with the color of the crown so nearly approaching that of the male. 
Autumnal plumage of young : male. Upper parts as in breeding adults, 
the ash-blue a little clearer and brighter. Chin white ; rest of under 
parts brownish-rusty, paler on throat and intensifying into light chestnut 
on sides. A narrow line down centre of abdomen pure white (this last 
feature, though characteristic of most specimens, is wanting in a few). 
From a specimen in my collection shot at Upton, Me., September 7, 1874. 
Female. Pileum dark ashy mixed with black. Otherwise similar to 
male and scarcely lighter beneath. From specimen in my collection shot 
at Upton, Me., September 12, 1874. 
The adult in autumn is paler beneath than the young. 
15. Thryothorus ludovicianus. 
First plumage : male. Top of head dark rusty, each feather edged and 
tipped broadly with dull black, the former color nearly eliminated by the 
latter on the crown and forehead. Under parts nearly as in adult, but 
more cinnamoneous ; a few narrow, wavy, and somewhat badly defined 
transverse lines of black across the breast and abdomen. From a speci- 
men in my collection shot at Petroleum, West Va., May 1, 1874. 
16. Troglodytes a” don. 
First plumage : female. Upper parts more reddish than in adult : 
throat, jugulum, and breast pale fulvous-white, each feather on breast 
tipped with pale drab, giving that part of the plumage a delicately scu- 
tellate appearance. Abdomen whitish ; sides, anal region, and crissum 
dull rusty-brown, becoming almost chestnut on the crissum. No trace 
of bars on feathers of the body either above or beneath. From specimen 
in my collection shot at Cambridge, Mass., July 9, 1873. 
