VOL. VII.] PLUMAGES OF THE EIDER. 79 



and faded long scapulars and secondaries and by the 

 absence of white on the secondaries and secondary-coverts. 

 In July, these immature females of one year flock 

 together and are again easily recognised by their " black " 

 appearance on the water and their faded wings. In 

 many of them the mantle and scapulars appear to be 

 almost black, for the sandy-coloured edges are nearly 

 worn off prior to moulting. 



Second Winter-plumage. — ^The moult commences 

 at the end of July, and during August and September 

 the whole plumage undergoes a complete change to 

 that of the second winter. In October these second- 

 year females are very similar to adult females except 

 that the white band on the lower edge of the secondaries 

 and secondary-coverts is very narrow. On examining 

 several of these females the plumage seems more heavily 

 barred and not so red-brown as in adult females, nor are 

 the birds themselves so large. Neither do they moult 

 quite so early as adults. On the other hand in spring 

 they lose colour more quickly than adult females, and 

 have a worn and faded appearance as early as June. 

 The black bars on the flanks and breast are very 

 conspicuous and the whole of the head and upper-parts 

 very much darker than in adults. The secondaries and 

 secondary-coverts are worn greyish-brown with the 

 narrow white edge stiU showing. 



The oviduct of these second-year females is larger 

 than that of the five-months females, but is not developed 

 hke that of an old bird. Schioler remarks that the 

 ovary presents a somewhat different appearance, the single 

 eggs being discernible and a few of them being a little 

 enlarged. It may be possible that some of these 

 immature females of twenty-two months breed, yet 

 I think that the majority do not do so, for I have shot 

 several consorting with the small packs of nine-months 

 old females which kept quite apart all the spring and 

 summer from the breeding birds, whilst aU Mr. Schioler's 



