40 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xi. 



is more correctly described as being a mixture of that of 

 the juvenile male and the adult female, though in some 

 species it is distinct from both. The eclipse Mallard, Teal 

 and Garganej' resemble the juvenile male on the head and 

 upper-parts, while the under-parts are like those of the adult 

 female ; in the Pintail the eclipse plumage of the upper-parts 

 is quite distinct from both, though the head and neck 

 resemble the juvenile male and the under-parts the adult 

 female. 



Adult female. Winter. — This plumage is acquired by a 

 complete moult. Apparently the remiges are all dropped 

 together as in the adult male, but I have only been able to 

 examine three specimens showing Aving-moult, viz., one 

 Mallard, July 1st, and one October 2nd with remiges all in 

 quill, and one Teal, ditto, May 1st. 



Adult female. Summer. — The body-plumage, tail, and 

 innermost secondaries and down are completely moulted 

 from February to May. In the Mallard this ])lumage is the 

 same as the Avinter ; in the Teal the up|)er-parts are darker 

 and the under-parts more spotted ; in the Garganey the feathers 

 of the upper-parts have much broader buff edges and the 

 same applies to the Shoveler, which has also more plentiful 

 buff markings on the upper-parts. In the Pintail and 

 Wigeon the plumage appears to be the same as in winter. 

 No spring or summer specimens of Gadwall have been 

 examined. Towards the end of this moult the down moult 

 commences. In the ducks there is a well-developed (lo\\n, 

 apart from the downy filaments which the barbs of the 

 contour feathers degenerate into towards the base of the 

 feathers ; in the female this down is moulted in spring and 

 replaced by a similar down and in addition by a much stronger 

 and more luxuriant down, which does not seem to differ in 

 structure microscopically excei^t in its miich greater coar.se- 

 ness. In a female Teal in my collection, both downs are in 

 sheath, and it is of interest to note that they emerge from 

 separate papillcp. This " ne.st " down is easily recognised 

 from the normal down by its much greater length, by the 

 strength of barbs and barbules (the latter being very ])lainly 

 visible to the naked eye), by its silky, almost plume-like, 

 appearance, and by its different colour. 



In the Mallard, the ordinary down is grey, the '' nest " down 

 black ; in the Teal and the American Green-winged Teal 

 the ordinary down is ashy-brown, the "nest " down l)lack with 

 faint buff tips ; in the American Blue-winged Teal the 

 ordinary down is ])ale ashy-brown, the " nest " down blackish- 



