498 



ANATIDiE. 



indeed, is the case with all those varieties of the same 

 bird which, under the name of "Tame Ducks," have 

 altered the least from their natural wild type. Yet in the 

 summer months, when both sexes moult,* the Mallard 

 puts off the whole of his characteristic gay plumage, and 

 appears in the sober brown garb of the Duck. It is only, 

 in fact, from October to May that the Mallard can be dis- 



THE WILD DUCK. 



tinguished from his partner by his markings. At this 

 season, too, young birds, so far as they are fledged, are of 

 the same tone of colouring. Domesticated birds are sub- 

 ject to the same change ; but a reason for this singular 

 metamorphosis no naturalist, as far as I am aware, has 

 ventured to assign. 



* Formerly spelt " moot," from the Latin muto, to change. 



