Den&roica cast ane^ . 
Descriptions of First Plumage of Cer- 
ta*n North Am, Bbs. Wa, Brewster. 
30. Dendrceca castanea. 
First plumage: female. Remiges, rectrices, primary coverts, and alulae 
as in adult. Pileum, nape, and rump dull brown ; back dull olive-green ; 
upper tail-coverts slaty-black. Entire under parts creamy-white, with 
the slightest possible tinge of clay-color, varying to ashy on the breast. 
No trace of chestnut on the flanks. Sides of head "buff, strongly tinged 
with greenish on the auriculars and maxillary line. Each feather of the 
body, both above and beneath, with a large terminal spot of black; the 
posterior half of abdomen, anal region, and crissum are, however, im¬ 
maculate. In my collection, from Upton, Me., August 9, 1873. 
A very complete suite of specimens, taken late in August and early in 
September, illustrates well the development of the plumage of the young 
of this species. The spotted feathers of the under parts, with the excep¬ 
tion of a narrow line down the centre of the breast, are the first to disap¬ 
pear, and simultaneously with their removal, the chestnut flank-patches 
become apparent. Next the pileum and nape take on the autumnal 
green, and last of all the feathers of the back and central line beneath 
are changed. Adults of this species in fall dress are indistinguishable 
from the young, except by the more pronounced chestnut on the sides. 
Bull. N,0.0* 3, April, 1878. p. 
