Descriptions of First Plumage of Cer- 
tain North Am. Bbs. Wm. Brewster, 
98. Colaptes auratus. 
First plumage : male. Crown washed with dull red ; nuchal band dull 
scarlet. Otherwise similar to the adult, but with the throat tinged with 
ash and the spots upon the under parts dusky instead of black. ^ From a 
specimen in my collection taken at Cambridge, Mass., July 6, 1873. 
The female in first plumage I have not seen, but two young females 
before me, which have nearly perfected their autumnal plumage have 
each a well-defined mustache, - not black, however, as m the male ot any 
acre but of a dark plumbeous color. Upon raising the feathers, many of 
them are found to be nearly black at their bases, and a few entirely black 
ones appear. I have seen two other females, both young birds m imper- 
fect autumnal dress, which had similar dark mustaches. It seems not 
unlikely that many females of this species may in first plumage he marked 
nearly like the males. Bull. N.O.C. 3, Oct,, 1878, p. 
Albinism and Melanism in North 
American Birds* Buthven Deane, 
C. auratus is the only example A among the Picidce that 
has come under my notice. 
B«1L N.O.O. l.Ajpti. 1876, p.22 
Albinism and Melanism in North 
American Birds. Ruthven I> ano. 
, Colap-ies auratus, ^ tS-* 
Bnli. N.O.C. 1, April, 1876, p. 24 
Albinistic Plumages. R. Deane. 
A Golden-winged Woodpecker, which I obtained 
from a dealer in Providence, R. I., and which was shot near that city, 
is a beautiful specimen, the red nuchal patch and the golden shafts 
of the feathers of the wings and tail being the only normal colors 
remaining, the rest of the plumage being a creamy white. 
Bull N.O.O# 5 | 1880, p »28 
