Plumatr* Of some birds from v.pper 
So, Carolina - Leverefct M, Loomis. 
Guiraca caerulea. — Wilson in his description of this species 
says, “The female is of a dark drab color, tinged with blue, and 
considerably lightest below.” More recent writers appear to have 
overlooked that the temale in high plumage exhibits considerable 
blue coloration, attesting that Wilson even at this day may be 
consulted with profit in matters relating purely to the technics of 
ornithology. The following descriptions of two specimens illus- 
trate the higher colors assumed by the female. 
9 ad. (Aug. 25, 1885). Crown, rump, jugulum, fore breast, 
malar region, and lesser coverts, blue ; occiput, auriculars, throat 
and neck all around, scapulars, edge of wing, upper tail-coverts, 
outer edges of rectrices, except lateral pair, strongly tinged with 
blue. This specimen is in worn plumage with three rectrices in 
process of renewal. 
? ad. (May 7, 1891). Top of head, fore part of cervix, 
throat, jugulum, malar region, rump, lesser coverts, and edge of 
wing, blue, obscured by brownish tips to the feathers, particu- 
ditler widely in color, it is a question whether the variation in 
these cases may not be individual. Special investigation in each 
species alone will decide the matter. 
An immature male with testes partially enlarged, taken May 
18, 1891, has the blue chiefly confined to the sides of the head. 
In a series, the two females described above would far more 
readily be picked out as immature males. In the spring of 
1890 males in full dress were secured from the outset. The 
following year only those in brown and blue plumage were 
obtained up to May 19, the last day search was made. Where 
the deeper colored plumage was concealed by brown tips to 
the feathers, the juvenile appearance of the birds of the second 
season appeared to be due to a retarding of the process of abra- 
sion, which wearing away of the terminal portions of the 
feathers is manifest in this species from its first arrival in this 
locality. 
Auk X, April. 1893. p.162-4. 
