MOULT 597 
typical Gallinzx,' which are able to fly at a very early age, often before 
they are one-third grown, the original quills, being proportioned 
to the duties required of them, are shed before the bird has 
attained its full size and are succeeded by others that serve it when 
it has reached maturity. In the Anatide and some other groups, 
however, we have a singular exception to what has been above 
stated. Most of the former, Ducks, Geese and Swans, shed their 
quill-feathers all at once, and become absolutely incapable of flight 
for a season,” during which time they generally seek the shelter 
of thick aquatic herbage,? and it is further to be particularly 
remarked that the males of most of the Family Anatidxy at the 
same period lose the brilliantly-coloured plumage which commonly 
distinguishes them and “ go into eclipse,” as Waterton happily said, 
putting on for several weeks a dingy garb much resembling that of 
the other sex, to resume their gay attire only when, their new 
quills being grown, it can be safely flaunted in the open air. Here 
we have the first instances of Additional Moult to be mentioned. 
Another is not less interesting, though ornithologists must confess 
with shame that they have not sufficiently investigated it. This is 
that of the Ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus (p. 392), both sexes of which not 
1 Nothing seems to be known about the moulting of the young Megapodiide, 
and information thereon would be very acceptable. 
2 A Patagonian form, the LogeEr-HEAD (p. 518, No. 3) Tachyeres cinereus, 
seems never to regain the power of flight thus lost (ef. Cunningham, Proc. Zool. 
Soc. 1871, p. 262). 
3 It is amusing to find from comments on a paper by the Baron d’Hamonville 
(Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr. 1884, pp. 101-106), that the observation of this fact has 
been regarded by reviewers and others as a recent discovery. The fact may have 
been neglected by some writers ; but it was well known to a monk of the 12th 
century (Liber Eliensis, ii. cap. 105), and it is hard to imagine the time when it was 
not familiar to ‘‘ divers persons next inhabiting in the countries and places within 
this realm, where the substance of the same wild-fowl hath been accustomed to 
breed,” for they—to continue the words of an Act of Parliament (25 Hen. viii. 
cap. 11) passed in 1533—‘‘in the summer season, at such time as the said old 
fowl be moulted, and not replenished with feathers to fly . . . have by certain 
nets, engines and other policies yearly taken great numbers of the same fowl, in 
such wise that the brood of wild-fowl is almost thereby wasted and consumed.” 
It was accordingly declared unlawful to take Wild Ducks or Wild Geese in this 
manner between thé last day of May and the last day of August. Another Act 
in 1710 (9 Anne, cap. 25, § 4) reinforced this provision for any ‘‘ Fowl commonly 
reputed Waterfowl, in any place of resort for wild fowl in the moulting season,” 
and in 1737 (10 Geo. ii. cap. 32, § 10), the close time for moulting waterfowl 
was extended to the Ist of October. 
A similar state of things in the FLAMINGO came under the notice of Pallas 
(Zoogr. Ross.-Asiat. ii. p. 207) who therein is corroborated by Crespon (Orn. du 
Gard, p. 896); and, more recently, it has been asserted by M. Gerbe (Rev. Zool. 
1875, pp..271-277, pl. vi.) to obtain in the Purrin, Fratercula arctica, and in 
the Black-throated Diver, Colymbus arcticus. 
