MOULT 597 



typical Gallinse^ which are able to fly at a very early age, often before 

 they are one-third grown, the original quills, being proportioned 

 to the duties required of them, are shed before the bird has 

 attained its full size and are succeeded by others that serve it when 

 it has reached maturity. In the Anatidze and some other groups, 

 however, we have a singular exception to what has been above 

 stated. Most of the former, Ducks, Geese and Swans, shed their 

 quill-feathers all at once, and become absolutely incapable of flight 

 for a season, 2 during which time they generally seek the shelter 

 of thick aquatic herbage, 3 and it is further to be particularly 

 remarked that the males of most of the Family Ancdidse at the 

 same period lose the brilliantly-coloured plumage which commonly 

 distinguishes them and " go into eclipse," as Waterton happily said, 

 putting on for several weeks a dingy garb much resembling that of 

 the other sex, to resume their gay attire only when, their new 

 quills being grown, it can be safely flaunted in the open air. Here 

 we have the first instances of Additional Moult to be mentioned. 

 Another is not less interesting, though ornithologists must confess 

 with shame that they have not sufficiently investigated it. This is 

 that of the Ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus (p. 392), both sexes of which not 



1 Nothing seems to be known about the moulting of the young Megapodiidse, 

 and information thereon would be very acceptable. 



2 A Patagonian form, the LOGGER-HEAD (p. 518, No. 3) Tachyeres cinereus, 

 seems never to regain the power of flight thus lost (cf. Cunningham, Proc. Zool. 

 Soc. 1871, p. 262). 



3 It is amusing to find from comments on a paper by the Baron d'Hamonville 

 (Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr. 1884, pp. 101-106), that the observation of this fact has 

 been regarded by reviewers and others as a recent discovery. The fact may have 

 been neglected by some writers ; but it was well known to a monk of the 12th 

 century (Liber Eliensis, ii. cap. 105), and it is hard to imagine the time when it was 

 not familiar to " divers persons next inhabiting in the countries and places within 

 this realm, where the substance of the same wild-fowl hath been accustomed to 

 breed," for they to continue the words of an Act of Parliament (25 Hen. viii. 

 cap. 11) passed in 1533 "in the summer season, at such time as the said old 

 fowl be moulted, and not replenished with feathers to fly . . . have by certain 

 nets, engines and other policies yearly taken great numbers of the same fowl, in 

 such wise that the brood of wild-fowl is almost thereby wasted and consumed." 

 It was accordingly declared unlawful to take Wild Ducks or Wild Geese in this 

 manner between the last day of May and the last day of August. Another Act 

 in 1710 (9 Anne, cap. 25, 4) reinforced this provision for any "Fowl commonly 

 reputed Waterfowl, in any place of resort for wild fowl in the moulting season," 

 and in 1737 (10 Geo. ii. cap. 32, 10), the close time for moulting waterfowl 

 was extended to the 1st of October. 



A similar state of things in the FLAMINGO came under the notice of Pallas 

 (Zoogr. Ross.-Asiat. ii. p. 207) who therein is corroborated by Crespon (Orn. du 

 Gard, p. 396) ; and, more recently, it has been asserted by M. Gerbe (Rev. Zool. 

 1875, pp. 271-277, pi. vi.) to obtain in the PUFFIN, Fratercula ardica, and in 

 the Black-throated DIVER, Colymbus arclicus. 



