Descriptions of First Plumage of Cer- 
tain. North Am, Bbs. Wm. Brewster. 
44. Tachycineta bicolor. 
First plumage : male. Upper parts uniform dark slate, with a fine silky- 
gloss ; feathers of interscapular region faintly edged with pale fawn. 
Secondaries edged and tipped with pale cinnamon-gray. Under parts 
soiled white, with a faintly indicated pectoral hand of pale ashy-brown. 
From a specimen in my collection, shot at Cambridge, June 22, 1872. 
A good series of summer specimens shows well the transitional stages. 
The first plumage is worn much longer than in most birds, and the au- 
tumnal dress very slowly acquired, the metallic tinted feathers appearing 
one or two at a time. The remiges are also moulted by the young, as well 
as by the adult, and both in the autumnal plumage have the last pair of 
secondaries broadly tipped with pure white. This remarkable feature, so 
far as the specimens at hand go to show, is entirely characteristic of this 
plumage. 
Bull. N.O.Ct 3* April, 1878. p. (? 3 ■ 
Supplementary. — Tachycineta bicolor. In my remarks upon the 
development of the plumage of young birds of this species (Yol. Ill, No. 
2, p. 63), I stated that the first plumage was worn “ much longer than in 
most birds.” From investigation of material collected during the past 
season, I find that the change takes place from about the middle to the 
last of September. Six specimens shot at Concord, Mass., October 16, 
1878, have all acquired the full autumnal dress. The young differ from 
the adults only in having an exceedingly faint brownish-ashy wash on 
the breast and throat, and also in the shade of the metallic lustre of the 
back, which is of a greener and less steely cast. Both adults and young 
possess the conspicuous white tipping on the secondaries. 
Bull. 1ST. 0,0. 4, Jan, *879, p V6 . 
Albinism and Melani 
American Birds* R u 
anis-rr. in North 
xtuthven Deane, 
An Albino Tree Swallow. 
^ T. bicolor, ^ On Sunday, August 1st, I was passing along the 
road between Lacon and “Undercliff,” and about a 
mile south of the cliff I saw an albino Tree Swal- 
BuU. N.0.0. 1. 
1 4 April, 1876, p.2l low - 14 was with a lar 8 e fl° ck of the kin< I and 
■ ' ' Mwvimvili Wiivvuvio HU UO Oil bliu tOUlVUUl, 
for should they be fortunate enough to capture it, 
they were along a telegraph wire. As to the iden- 
tity of the bird there can be no doubt, because I 
bad a splendid opportunity to examine it, the bird 
being very tame, and I having a pair of opera 
glasses with mo. The bird was a pure white one 
and presented a lovely sight balanced on its out- 
stretched wings in the full sunlight. The entire 
party of picnicers watched it for ten or fifteen 
minutes. Not being a skin collector myself I 
made no attempt to shoot it, but being fully aware 
of what a prize is extant, take this method of 
warning southern collectors to be on the lookout, 
they would have one of the most beautiful birds I 
have ever seen. Should any one secure it I should 
be pleased to have him inform all bird lovers 
through these columns. — B. M. Barnes, Lacon, Bl. 
O.&O. XI. Sept. 1886. p. m 1 . 
~76 
