Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 3 of 9.djvu/73



Adult Male in Autumn and Winter.—The upper parts are uniform olive brown, but the upper tail-coverts are of a rather more rusty colour, and the outer edges of the primaries and tail-feathers more yellowish. There is a distinct buffish yellow superciliary stripe ending somewhat abruptly, the lores are blackish, and the cheeks brownish grey with a light narrow stripe in the middle of each feather. The throat is whitish, the crop more of a buff colour—some specimens showing a slight vinous tint—and this colour extends down the flanks. The under tail-coverts are whitish buff, and the abdomen pure white. In some specimens the under parts have a more olive yellowish appearance. The under part of the tail is lavender brown, and the shafts of the feathers whitish. The feet are buffish flesh colour, iris brown, and the bill horn colour, the lower mandible being buffish yellow at the base.

In the spring the yellow on the under surface seems to be the predominating colour, and the upper parts are olive.