12 1 MOULTING. 



to yellow. " But during the autumn — say August and 

 Sei^tember, it is on the whole more brownish, and 

 consequently darker than in the spring." In winter, 

 however, with the exception of the tail feathers, which 

 are at all times black tipped with white, both male and 

 female become quite white. 



M. Earth,* when speaking of the spring moulting of 

 the Dal-E.ipa, says: "The male begins to put on his 

 spring dress towards the latter end of March, say from 

 the 20th to the 23rd ; but this cannot be said to be fully 

 developed till the nnddle of June, the change thus occu- 

 pying nearly three whole months. The female com- 

 mences moultini? decidedly later than the male. Prior 

 to the 8th of April I have seldom seen the slightest 

 change in her plumage; but owing to the process with 

 her being much more rapid, the transformation is com- 

 pleted by the end of May, or within about a month and 

 a half; and she is therefore the first by two or tliree 

 weeks to appear in her new attire." 



In regard to the autumnal moulting of the Dal-Hipa, 

 the same authority says : — " This as a general rule com- 

 mences, with the male, in the early days of September, 

 and is completed in about two months ; whilst with the 

 female, who does not begin changing her dress until a 

 fortnight after the male, the process is over in much less 

 time. There are exceptions ; however ; for even when 

 November has been well advanced I have seen males 

 not altogether divested of their autumnal garb. Once, 



* A well-known Norwegian sportsman, wlio gives us much valuable 

 ami curious information respecting both species of Ripa, the habits of which 

 he has probably had better opportunities of studying than any man living, 

 and whom I cpiote with the greater pleasure, as I am assured by a i-ery 

 high authority, that " the word of M. Earth may be received a.s gospel 

 truth," which is not always the case with the uttemnces of every one when 

 ivlating incidents of " Hood and hold." 



