38 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



[vol. IX. 



were in moult, viz., one ]\Iarch 26th moulting a little 

 on the head, mantle, breast, and belly ; one March 

 29th moulting a feather or tA\'0 on the l^reast and mantle 

 onty ; and one April 12th moulting heavily on the 

 breast. One adult male, Garganey, March 5th, out of 

 a good series, A\as moulting on tlie head, neck, mantle 

 and one tail-feather, and one March 6th was moulting 

 on the upper-parts only. This list comprises all the 

 spring males found in moult — fairly conclusive evidence 

 surely that a spring-moult in the male is an unusual 

 occurrence. 



Wliile I feel that at this stage it is too early to theorize, 

 one cannot reflect on tliis question of the spring-moult 

 of the female and its practical absence in the male 

 without wondering if the so-called echpse-plumage of 

 tlie male represents the winter-plumage, while the adult 

 M'inter-plumage which is acquired, as Mill be seen, by 

 a moult similar in the parts involved to that of the 

 female in spring, represents the summer-plumage. 

 Whether there is anything in this suggestion or not, 

 the collection and careful examination of moulting 

 specimens alone will decide.* 



The sequences of plumages in the ducks may be 

 classified as follows : — 



NestUng. 



Juvenile. 

 Adult Winter. First Winter. 



Adult Summer. First Summer. 



Adult Eclipse. First Eclipse. 



Second Winter, etc. 

 These terms are fully discussed and explained in 

 British Birds, Vol. III., p. 211. The first ecUpse- 

 plumage is, as its name implies, the first eclipse to be 

 assumed by the young bird and appears in most cases 

 to be identical with the adult eclipse, though details of 

 moult are possibly different. From the followmg notes 



* For other reasons Mr. W. P. Pvcraft has made the same suggestion 

 (c/ Bull. B.O.C., xxxiii., p. (J7). — Eds. 



