VOL ix.J PLUMAGES IN BRITISH DUCKS. 139 



plumage, namely, in the Sheld-Duck, Wigeon, Eider, 

 Long-tailed Duck, Velvet-Scoter, and Red-crested Pochard, 

 and probably therefore in all the species of AnaticUe. 



I do not quite agree ^dth Miss Jackson when she 

 writes of the " nestlings " of the surface-feeding ducks 

 having the same general " colour pattern." Before me, 

 as I M'rite, I have the following " downy " chicks : 

 ]\rallard, Gadwall, Teal, Garganey, Wigeon, American 

 Wigeon, Shoveler and Pintail in surface-feeding ducks, 

 and Sheld-Duck, Ruddy Sheld-Duck, Ferruginous Duck, 

 Tufted Duck, Scaup-Duck, Common Eider and Velvet- 

 Scoter amongst the sea-ducks, and all the several surface- 

 feeding ducklings differ in " pattern " ; no two species 

 are alike by any means. The Mallard and Gadwall, for 

 example, the latter \\itli the additional spot at the base 

 of the beak, the Teal with its very distinct head markings, 

 the Garganey with its broad buff streak above the eye 

 and characteristic black line through the eye, the Wigeon 

 with practically a plain head pattern and chestnut face, 

 and the American Wigeon ^dth a distinct head pattern. 

 The Pintail pattern is very distinct. Turning to the 

 sea-ducks, here again patterns differ considerably in 

 many cases, slightly but distinctly in others, as in the 

 Sheld-Duck and Ruddy Sheld-Duck, the additional spot 

 on the ear-coverts and the extra white spot between the 

 shoulders in the former readily distinguishing it from 

 the latter, in which these spots are wanting ; but perhaps 

 I am unduly labouring the point, as I ought to take 

 Miss Jackson's statement : " It is interesting to note that 

 nestlings of the different species have the same general 

 colour pattern, though in some of the species the colours 

 comprising the pattern are slightly different," as being 

 simply a general statement, because the nestlings of the 

 different species do bear a somewhat superficial likeness 

 to each other as regards pattern. 



I mil now discuss INIiss Jackson's detailed account of 

 the moults in surface feeders. With regard to the adult 

 males in " eclipse." Firstly, as regards the moult of 



