228 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
under conditions apparently so favourable to differentiation as 
those of the complete isolation of a Siberian bird on an oceanic 
island in the tropics, three centuries and a half is too short a 
time to have produced any important differentiation. 
“It is difficult to reconcile the statement of Cavendish with 
that of G. Forster, quoted by Latham (ut supra), because, 
although no date is mentioned, Forster’s words certainly imply 
that Pheasants were introduced into St. Helena by the Governor 
of the island (Mr. Skottoe) who entertained him in 1775. In 
his ‘ Voyage round the World in H.M. Sloop ‘“‘ Resolution,” com- 
manded by Capt. Cook, during the years 1772, -3, -4, and -5’ 
(2 vols. 4to, 1777), we find (vol. ii. p. 567) that the ship reached 
St. Helena on the 16th May, 1775, and on the following day 
Forster, in company with Capt. Cook and the Hon. Mr. Stuart, 
“took an airing on the hills.”” On May 18th they revisited the 
hills, and ‘‘in our return,” he says, ‘“‘ we saw several coveys of 
Partridges, which are of the small red-legged sort common on 
the coast of Africa. We likewise saw several beautiful Ring 
Pheasants, which have been introduced into the island by the 
Governor, together with Guinea-hens and Rabbits. There is at 
present a penalty of five pounds for killing a Pheasant, by which 
means they multiply so fast that the restriction will soon be 
needless.”” We must therefore conclude either that Cavendish in 
1588 mistook some other birds for Pheasants, which seems hardly 
possible, or that Forster in 1775 was mistaken in supposing that 
Pheasants were introduced into the island for the first time 
by the Governor who entertained him, Mr. Skottoe.—Ep.] 
ON THE MOULTING OF THE FLIGHT-FEATHERS IN 
THE COMMON WILD DUCK. 
By tHe Eprror. 
A suBsEcT of some interest to naturalists and sportsmen is 
the different mode in which the moulting of the quill-feathers 
is effected in the sexes of the Common Wild Duck, Anas 
boscas; and yet it is curious how few persons, comparatively 
speaking, are aware of it, although the facts have long been 
made known. 
we | 
