AXATID^. 219 



that each succeeding year their numbers grow less and 

 less. The Ducks are nearly all nocturnal feeders, sleeping 

 by day on the middle of some quiet lake, or on some 

 sheltered stream, flying to their feeding-grounds in the 

 evening. There is a great difference between the plumages 

 of the two sexes in some of them, the drake being decked 

 with a variety of bright colours, while the duck, for the 

 sake of protection while she is incubating her eggs and 

 taking charge of her young, is clad in inconspicuous brown 

 and russet. Directly the breeding-season is over a rapid 

 change takes place in the brilliant livery of the drake, 

 and a dingy plumage, somewhat resembling that of his 

 spouse, is assumed; and this "eclipse" stage, as it is 

 called, is, doubtless, also connected with protective pur- 

 poses, serving to guard the bird during the utter helpless- 

 ness occasioned by the summer moult, during which all 

 the flight-feathers are shed, and the drake, a short time 

 since so proud in his splendid dress and strong powers of 

 wing, is compelled to pass weeks sheltering among the 

 sedge and reeds, from whence we have had examples, 

 incapable of flight, occasionally brought to us by our 

 retrievers. By October the moulting-stage has been fully 

 passed, and the drakes have once more assumed their 

 brilliant plumage. Vs'^e believe this curious change 

 during the summer in tlie plumage of the drake is ex- 

 perienced in all those species in which in the adult birds 

 there is a conspicuous difl'erence in the dress of the two 

 sexes. 



Common Sheldrake. Tadoma conmta (S. G. Cini.). 



[Burrow Duck (X I), nud Somerset).] 



Kfsiflont in very limited numbers, Imt mainly a casual visitor in winter 

 and early spririp. 



This very handsome Duck still ijrccd.s on the ]5rauiitoi\ iJuirows in 



