ANNUAL MOLT IN R. L REDS 



TIME REQUIRED FOR MOLTING 



The average number of days required for the two groups of males to complete 

 the molt in the six feather areas studied is recorded in table 1, together with the 

 average date of completion. 



The rather limited data indicate that males bred for egg production tend to 

 molt at a slower rate than those bred for plumage color. When the wing primaries 

 are considered, this tendency is rather pronounced. Males bred for egg pro- 

 duction required 19 more days to shed all ten wing primaries than those bred 

 for color. The average dates of completing the wing primary molt were October 

 26 and October 10, respectively. 



The order of completion in different feather tracts was variable. All feathers 

 on the neck and on the back were lost at about the same time and at a somewhat 

 earlier date than the feathers in other tracts. The breast region followed next, 

 with the femoral and lower leg completing almost simultaneously. The wing 

 primary feathers were the last to be completely shed. 



BODY WEIGHT DURING THE MOLTING PERIOD 



The mean body weight of the thirty males, as recorded at bi-weekly intervals, 

 is presented in chart 1. 



So far as body weight is concerned, there appears to be some difference in the 

 two groups of males. The exhibition males were somewhat smaller than the 

 production males. During August and early September the exhibition males 

 had an average loss of about one-third pound in weight; from the middle of 

 September on, they showed a rather consistent increase in weight to the maximum 

 observed at the end of November. Males bred for high fecundity were deficient 

 in weight at the end of July when the observations began. They lost no weight 

 as molting progressed, but rather exhibited a consistent increase up to the 

 maximum observed at the end of November. 



Although the annual molt appears to be a severe tax on the physiological func- 

 tions of the male, the data do not indicate that this is accompanied by reduced 

 body weight. 



10 00 

 9 00 

 8 00 



400 

 3.00 



1.00 

 



-. F 



AUG. 

 10 



SEPT SEPT OCT OCT NOV. NOV 



7 21 5 19 2 16 



DATE OF OBSERVATION 



DEC DEC. JAN. 

 14 28 12 



Chart 1. Mean Body Weight of Males and Females During Annual Molt. 1939-1940. 



