120 Brewster’s Descriptions oj the First Plumage 
but also the sides thickly marked in a similar manner. In view of 
this fact, the further development of the young is most interesting. 
When the autumnal plumage is acquired, the dusky streakings upon the 
sides of the breast are entirely lost, and do not again appear until after the 
spring moult, when, as previously stated, they are distributed over much 
larger areas. A nearly analogous case of development is afforded by the 
Arctic and Wilson’s Terns, whose young have the bill and feet at first pale 
red or yellow, afterwards dusky or nearly black, and again, when fully 
adult, deeper and clearer red than when first from the nest. 
65. Melospiza palustris. 
First 'plumage : female. Crown blackish, each feather obscurely tipped 
with lighter. Rest of upper parts reddish-brown, every feather streaked 
centrally with dull black. Beneath dull ferruginous-brown, fading to 
soiled white on the abdomen, streaked thickly but narrowly with dull 
black everywhere excepting on the abdomen. Sides of head dusky, with 
irregular patches of dark brown. No appreciable ashy anywhere. From 
a specimen in my collection taken at Cambridge, Mass., June 24, 1872. 
Specimens in first plumage show considerable variation in the amount of 
streaking beneath. Some are so faintly marked that at a little distance 
they appear entirely plain. They may be at once distinguished from ex- 
amples of M. melodia in corresponding plumage by the much darker cast 
of the upper surface (especially of the crown) and by the finer character of 
the markings beneath. 
66. Melospiza melodia. 
First plumage : male. Above similar to the adult, but with the crown 
less rufous, and the markings of the feathers upon the interscapular region 
decidedly darker. The sides of the head are also more buffy and the 
markings fainter. Beneath light yellowish-brown, streaked and spotted 
everywhere, excepting upon the throat and abdomen, with dusky brown, 
of a much lighter and duller cast than in the adult. From a specimen in 
,my collection shot at Cambridge, Mass., June 24, 1872. 
67. Junco hyemalis. 
First plumage : male. Upper parts dark brown, everywhere suffused 
with ashy, but most appreciably so upon the top and sides of head ; every 
feather marked obscurely with dull black. Greater and middle coverts 
tipped with reddish-brown, producing two rather indistinct wing-bands. 
Throat, and breast anteriorly, ferruginous-ashy, nearly obscured by 
streakings of dull black. Rest of under parts dull ashy- white, with a 
faint buffy tinge, spotted everywhere excepting on the abdomen with 
dusky. Crissum pale fulvous. From a specimen in my cabinet collected 
at Upton, Me., August 25, 1874. Considerable variation is exhibited by 
the series of specimens in first plumage before me. Some have the upper 
