202 THE MALLARD. 
cence of dress; than which scarcely any thing 
throughout the whole wild field of nature can be 
seen more lovely, or better arranged to charm the 
eye of man. This description of the change of 
plumage in the mallard has been penned down with 
great care. I enclosed two male birds in a coop, 
from the middle of May to the middle of October, 
and saw them every day during the whole of their 
captivity. Perhaps the moulting in other individuals 
may vary a trifle with regard to time. Thus we 
may say that once every year, for a very short 
period, the drake goes, as it were, into an eclipse, 
so that, from the early part of the month of July, to 
about the first week in August, neither in the 
poultry-yards of civilised man, nor through the vast 
expanse of Nature’s wildest range, can there be 
found a drake in that plumage which, at all other 
seasons of the year, is so remarkably splendid and 
diversified. 
Though I dislike the cold and dreary months of 
winter as much as any man can well dislike them, 
still I always feel sorry when the returning sun 
prepares the way for the wildfowl to commence 
their annual migratory journey into the unknown 
regions of the north. Their flights through the 
heavens, and their sportings on the pool, never fail 
to impart both pleasure and instruction to me. 
When the time of their departure comes, I bid my 
charming harmless company farewell, and from my 
heart I wish them a safe return. 
