34 



NOTES ON THE MOULTS AND SEQUENCE OF 

 PLUMAGES IN SOME BRITISH DUCKS. 



BY 



ANNIE C. JACKSON, hon. mem. b.o.xj. 



These notes are based on an examination of the specimens 

 in the Tring Museum, the Natural History Museum 

 South Kensington, Mr. H. F. Witherby's collection and 

 my own, of the following species : — Mallard (Arms p. 

 'platyrhyndia) , Gadwall [A. strepera), Teal {A. c. crecca), 

 American Green-winged Teal [A. c. carolinensis), American 

 Blue-winged Teal {A. discors), Garganey (A. querquedula), 

 VVigeon {A. penelope), American Wigeon {A. americana), 

 Pintail {A. acuta), Shoveler {Spahda clypeata), Common 

 Pochard {Nyroca f. jerina). Ferruginous Duck [Nyroca 

 nyroca), Tufted Duck (Nyroca fidigida), Scaup-Duck 

 {Nyroca m. marila). Owing to absence in many cases 

 of material required I have been unable to follow out 

 in every detail the sequence of the plumages and moults 

 of all these species, but the facts elucidated during the 

 course of my examination of this material seem of 

 sufficient interest to warrant their being recorded without 

 further delay. 



The only work that I am aware of which deals A\itli 

 the sequence of plumages in the surface -feeding ducks is 

 Mr. J. G. Millais's charming monograph of the group, 

 viz.. The Natural History of British Surface-Feeding 

 Ducks. W^hile appreciating the author's endeavours 

 in the task of unravelUng the changes of plumages and 

 moult, I am unable to corroborate his views on the part 

 played by " colour change." It will be remembered 

 that Mr. Millais explains the assumption of various 

 plumages, eclipse, winter, etc., by a moult in con- 

 junction with colour change or repigmentation of the 

 feather. The evidence derived from my examination 

 of many skins and specimens in the flesh has firmly 



