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. 



