298 SOME OBSERVATIONS ON 



main. Quadrupeds and Birds, which hyemate in high nor- 

 thern latitudes, are well known to he supplied with a covering 

 of extraordinary thickness and warmth : and this winter garb 

 suffers no diminution, until the return of that temperature, 

 which will enable the animal to dispense with it without in- 

 convenience. 



There is one more remark which we would make on this 

 head. When in the act of moulting, hirds are greatly sensible of 

 cold : an unseasonable decrease of temperature drives them to 

 shelter ; and their actions give evidence that they are not yet 

 prepared for such vicissitudes. In the case of those which meet 

 with an accidental loss of plumage in the winter, until this 

 loss is supplied, they are observed to be distressed : they seek 

 sheltered retreats, and sunny exposures; they lose their 

 wonted activity ; and, like an animal which suffers a wound, 

 they appear to have their attention completely absorbed by 

 their situation. 



But Montagu himself affords us one of the most apposil i 

 illustrations of the fact of a change of colour in mature plu- 

 mage, that could well be desired. In the month of May, he 

 was presented with a Black Stork, which had been taken 

 in England. In June, he perceived some indication of a 

 change of plumage. '-The bird," says he, "continued very 

 gradually to moult throughout the summer and winter, be- 

 coming much darker on the head and neck, and much greener 

 on the back ; and, by the beginning of February, the upper 

 part of the head, and back of the neck, became dusky- 

 black, glossed with green ; the lower neck before dusky-black, 

 and the whole upper part of the body, including wing-coverts 

 and scapulars, dark shining green, similar in colour to that 

 variety of the Glossy Ibis, known under the title of Tantalus 

 viridis. The upper parts of the plumage continued as at 

 first. 



"Indisposition," continues he, "having prevented my see- 

 ing the bird since the last mentioned period, till the middle 

 of March, I was much surprised to find the appearance of a 

 few feathers, on the upper part of the back, that were dusky, 



