122 WILLOW WARBLER. 
than the sixth, but not so long as the fifth, the third, fourtn, 
and fifth nearly equal in length, and the longest in the wing; 
the quills nineteen in number: greater and lesser wing coverts, 
greyish brown, edged on the outside webs with yellowish 
green; primaries, excepting the two first, secondaries, and 
tertiaries, darker brown, edged with yellowish grecn, the latter 
the most so; greater and lesser under wing coverts, bright 
yellow, some of the feathers extending over the outer edge. 
The tail, which is rather long, and of a greyish brown colour, 
the feathers edged extensively with yellowish green, has the 
two middle feathers slightly shorter than the other ones; 
underneath, it is greyish brown; it reaches an inch beyond 
the end of the wings; upper tail coverts, dull olive green; 
under tail coverts, whitish, strongly tinged with yellow. The 
legs are very slender and delicate, and, as the toes, light 
yellowish brown; claws, brown. 
The femaie is a little larger than the male, and her colours 
are not so bright; length, a little over five inches; the wings. 
extend to the width of about eight inches. 
The young bird at first resembles the parent; after the 
autumnal moult the whole of plumage of the under parts 
becomes more yellow than in the old birds. 
The moult takes place as soon as the young are dismissed, 
and the new plumage is perfect by the middle of September. 
Mr. Macgillivray says, ‘I have not observed any other 
remarkable variations than those connected with the periodical 
change of plumage. The above descriptions refer to individuals 
having their feathers perfect. When these birds arrive in 
this country in April, the old individuals have their plumage 
considerably worn, in consequence of which the yellowish 
green edgings are diminished, and the yellow tints more or 
less obliterated. At the same period, individuals are met with 
having the plumage in all respects perfect, and of a much 
brighter colour. They most probably are young birds reared 
in the southern regions during the absence of the species, or 
at least young birds of the previous year, which have been 
long in moulting. As the season advances the upper parts 
become of a nearly uniform greyish brown; the yellow tints 
fade, so that the line over the eye becomes nearly white, as 
does the greater part of the lower surface.’ 
