( 524 ) 



XXXIII. Remarks on the Changes of the Plumage of Birds. By 

 the Rev. William Whitear, of Starston in Norfolk. Communicated 

 by Joseph Sabine, Esq., F.R.S. and L.S., ^c. 



Read April 6, 1819, 



It is well known that birds annually change their feathers, and 

 that in many of them the new feathers are of a different colour 

 from those which Avere cast. It is also known, that several birds 

 put on a different livery during the breeding season to that which 

 they wear in autumn. But no writer, with whom I am acquainted, 

 has hitherto pointed out the fact, that in some birds the full-grown 

 feathers themselves change colour without being replaced by new ones. 

 Some recent observations that I have made upon birds assuming 

 their summer plumage give me reason to suppose that such a 

 change does really take place. 



In the year 1817, Mr. Youell of Yarmouth had sixteen young 

 wild Mallards confined in a small pond by netting; and he was 

 much surprised to find that towards the end of the year these 

 birds put on a great deal of the beautiful plumage of the old 

 bird, and yet that no feathers were to be found floating on the 

 water, or scattered on the banks of the pond, as is usually the 

 case when birds are moulting. Mr. Youell having made the same 

 remark last year upon other birds of the duck genus, and com- 

 municated his suspicions to me, that birds sometimes change the 

 colour of their dress without shooting their feathers, I determined 



to 



