No. VII. 



Some Observations on the Moulting of Birds. By George 

 Ord.— Read March 7th, 1828. 



r PHAT Birds, in general, annually shed their feathers, will 

 not he disputed. This change takes place, in some spe- 

 cies, in summer ; in others, in the autumn. When the old 

 feathers drop, their place is supplied by new ones, which, in 

 some species, are of quite a different complexion from those 

 that they succeed. But when, in the spring, a retrocession 

 of colour is found to have taken place, naturalists have 

 concluded, that these birds undergo a double moulting; for 

 in no other way could they account for a change of colour, 

 which has been supposed to be dependent on a change of plu- 

 mage. The species which are usually domesticated have 

 been said to moult but once a year* ; because, not perceiving 



* With respect to the genus Anas, the author of the Manuel a" 'Ornithologie 

 expresses himself thus : " La mue, chez le plus grand nombre des especes con- 

 nues, a lieu deux fois l'annee, en Juin et en Novembrc. Les femelles muent plus 

 tard que les males, et peut-etre ne lefoht-elles qiflinefois." — p. 814. 



It here seems evident, that, in these remarks, Temminck would include the do- 

 mestic geese. With us these valuable birds commence laying about the 1st of 

 March ; early in April they sit ; and in May bring forth their young : the period 

 of incubation being four weeks. Moulting then commences, and continues until 

 August. In September they tire pretty well fledged ; and in November, the very 

 season in which, agreeably to Temminck, the second moulting takes place, they 

 are in full feather ; and give frequent evidence of the fact by short flights, espe- 

 cially if dwelling near a lake or river. The same remarks are applicable to ducks. 



