220 
Dwight, Sequence of Plumages. 
r Auk 
Ljuly 
stage it represents, and may not be confused with the ‘ first 
winter ’ and the ‘ first nuptial ’ plumages, which seem to be fitting 
antitheses to ‘adult winter’ and ‘adult nuptial.’ At all events, 
juvenal marks a second stage, which is ill suited by the adjective 
‘ first.’ It is doffed by a postjuvenal molt. 
3. First Winter Plumage. In this third stage feathers of adult 
structure are first assumed, the wings and tail of the juvenal 
plumage being retained in the majority of our species. It is the 
1 autumnal ’ plumage. 
4. First Nuptial Plumage. This is the breeding dress of young 
or 1 immature ’ birds and it may be merely the first winter plumage 
plus wear, or it may be wholly or in part acquired by a prenuptial 
molt which very rarely includes the flight-feathers, although the 
tail may be renewed when the wings are not. 
5. Adult {or Second) Winter Plumage. A complete molt 
always follows the breeding season and distinctions between 
young and old birds usually vanish at this time, unless they have 
done so earlier. In most species, the differences between first 
and second (adult) winter plumages are inconsiderable, in some 
the plumage differs widely and several molts occur before the 
young bird acquires full adult dress. 
6. Adult {or Second ) Nuptial Plumage. This may be acquired 
every year in exactly the same way as the first nuptial, but there 
are some species that, after one prenuptial molt, undergo only the 
postnuptial in succeeding years. 
There are many species in which these six plumages or stages 
may be clearly recognized, — usually less than six can be made 
out, and very rarely more. ‘ Third Winter ’ and 1 Third Nuptial * 
will indicate later plumages, but ‘ adult’ may naturally be substi- 
tuted as soon as differences between young and old are obliterated. 
My scheme, with proper modifications for certain groups of 
birds, will apply to all North American species, and, with a clear 
understanding of the process of molt, will explain the puzzling 
■combinations of plumage that are as yet unsolved. 
Ank, XV: p.z/7-zzo, 
