Oschle 1934 Berkeley, California - MVZ UC. 167 Aug 6 Lori W. Oroville, Butte co., calif. aug 6- Primary coverts molt with respective primaries. Feathers on femoral tract & upper leg] are starting on this bird. The center of the back has a patch of new feathers & they seem progressing downward & upward but the most new feathers are in the center. 50474 Otororis alpestris rubea 30.8g. He appears an adult bird with molt practically complete. This when compared with No 473 which also seems an adult just commencing molt indicates that adults are as far apart as some of the young I have examined. If the latter is to be accounted for by three broods is not the difference in time of adults accounted for similarly. If they nest real early they molt early. If they raise less than the usual no. of broods they molt early. The time of molts seems to be determined by the nesting season - these birds nest earlier than most birds & molt earlier - why doesn't the nesting season govern the individual also. Wing: Primary No 9 old, 8 pushing out of sheath, rest new but 7 not full grown.