156 THE STRUCTURE AND LIFE OF BIRDS chap. 



and a host of others come out like different birds. 

 Ducks and their allies are quite unlike most species 

 in this respect. The Mallard, the male of the Wild 

 Duck, to take an example, gets his fine feathers 

 in autumn and is in full splendour by October. He 

 is still wearing these same plumes when the pairing 

 time comes round. While the eggs are being laid and 

 sat upon, his plumage is fading, and before long a 

 moult begins. In June or about that time his faded 

 finery is shed and replaced by a dull garb very similar 

 to that of the Duck. Even earlier, towards the end 

 of May, he drops his big wing feathers, and, since they 

 all go nearly at the same time, he is incapable of 

 flight. Till then, he has been a most dutiful partner, 

 watching over his mate upon the nest, and warning 

 her if there happens to be danger when she is leaving 

 it to refresh herself with a bath and food. When his 

 moulting begins she is left to herself, arid often has, 

 unaided, to take her young ones to the water and 

 educate them. By the end of July the Mallard is 

 again possessed of fully grown remiges, but his dull 

 plumes are still upon him, and it is not till October 

 that he sheds these, and once more looks his best. 

 The Duck does not moult till her young ones are off 

 her hands. Geese, like Ducks, shed their quill feathers 

 all at once, and, standing, tumbled and helpless, pre- 

 sent a truly pitiful sight. It is only some water-birds 

 who moult in such haste. When the time comes for 

 it, they are very careful to be on or near the water so 

 that in case of danger, they may make use of what is 

 now their only means of escape, their power of 

 swimming. Mr. Seebohm describes a great procession 



