318 Letters, EMracts, Notices, ^c. 



tions made on my living specimens, is produced by a double 

 moult. In May the first moult takes place of all the 

 feathers, primaries and tail-feathers included. The rich 

 shining chestnut feathers of the breast are then replaced 

 by dull yellowish-brown feathers, and the white neck-collar 

 is replaced by another collar, also white, but not so clearly 

 defined, and not nearly so pure in colour. This is the 

 winter dress. At the end of August generally, the second 

 moult (of the small feathers only) begins and produces the 

 breeding-dress. The dull yellowish breast-feathers are then 

 shed and replaced by the bright chestnut-coloured ones, 

 whilst the shining white neck-collar is also regained. These 

 bright feathers also seem to have a different structure from 

 those of the winter dress, being much more silky and hairy 

 in appearance. 



As ducks of the genus Tadorna are generally supposed to 

 moult only once a year, I wish to draw your attention to these 

 facts. I have had my pair now for three years, and the 

 double moult, as just described, has occurred quite regularly 

 every year. I am. Sir, 



Yours &c., 



F. E. Blaauw. 



s' Graveland, Hilversum, Holland, 

 Dec. 1894. 



Sir, — The name Micropus is made use of twice in the 

 British Museum Catalogue of Birds as a valid generic name, 

 viz., in vol. vi., 1881, p. 64, by Dr. R. B. Sharpe, for a Time- 

 liine genus; and again in vol. xvi., 1893, p. 437, by Mr. Hartert, 

 for the Common Swift. Both avian genera, not to speak of 

 one of Lepidoptera, continue up to the present to bear the 

 same. name. In ' The Ibis,' 1893, for instance. Dr. Sharpe 

 (p. 560) mentions Micropus melanoleucus (Eyt.) as a Bornean 

 species of Babbler, and earlier in the same volume, pp. 97, 

 98, we find Dr. Shufeldt discussing the anatomy of Micropus 

 melanoleucus, but this time the bird is a Swift. 



As a genus of the Tiraeliidse, Microjms was first defined 

 in 1837 by Swainson (Classif. B. ii. p. 226). The name had 



