MALLARD. Ill 



dark green curled feathers of the tail, showing a 

 development or variation carried out in other parts 

 or in other ways among the members of this or 

 other very nearly allied genera. Tho young males 

 in their first dress resemble the female, but before 

 winter-time they have nearly assumed the com- 

 plete breeding state of the adults. The males, after 

 the season of incubation has passed, lose the green 

 head and distinguishing plumage of the upper parts 

 and become of a more sombre tint, with markings 

 similar to the female, but from which they may be 

 at all times distinguished ; and late in autumn they 

 again resume their proper dress, which is completed 

 and thickened before winter commences. The wild 

 duck is sometimes subject to variety ; we have seen 

 drakes having the upper parts of a bluish grey, the 

 dark breast paler; and we possess a duck shot 

 from a flock which has the wings and part of the 

 head and neck white ; we did not consider this to 

 be a tame bird mixing with the others. Mr. Yar- 

 rell also states having once or twice seen females 

 having partially assumed the male plumage, which 

 we have little doubt sometimes occurs, though we 

 have not fallen in with examples of it. 



It is among the birds which constitute our pre- 

 sent genus that we place also those which have 

 been denominated Teals, and which, from the vari- 

 ous generic appellations that have been bestowed 

 upon many of them, show that there is a variation 



