( 524 ) 
XXXIII. Remarks on the Changes of the Plumage of Birds. By 
the Rev. William Whitear, of Starston in Norfolk. Communicated 
by Joseph Sabine, Esq., F.R.S. and L.S., §¢. 
Read April 6, 1819. 
Ir is well known that birds annually change their feathers, and 
that in many of them the new feathers are of a different colour 
from those which were cast. 1t is also known, that several birds 
put on a different livery during the breeding season to that which 
they wear in autumn. But no writer, with whom Iam acquainted, 
has hitherto pointed out the fact, that in some birds the full-grown 
feathers themselves change colour without being replaced by new ones. 
Some recent observations that I have made upon birds assuming 
their summer plumage give me reason to suppose that such a 
change does really take place. | 
In the year 1817, Mr. Youell of Yarmouth had sixteen young 
wild Mallards confined in a small pond by netting; and he was 
much surprised to find that towards the end of the year these 
birds put on a great deal of the beautiful plumage of the old 
bird, and yet that no feathers were to be found floating on the 
water, or scattered on the banks of the pond, as is usually the 
case when birds are moulting. Mr. Youell having made the same 
remark last year upon other birds of the duck genus, and com- 
municated his suspicions to me, that birds sometimes change the 
colour of their dress without shooting their feathers, I determined 
to 
