136 THE STRUCTURE AND LIFE OF BIRDS cuap. 
and a host of others come out like different birds, 
Ducks and their allies are quite unlike most species 
in this respect. The Mallard, the male of the Wild 
Duck, to take an example, gets his fine feathers 
in autumn and is in full splendour by October. He 
is still wearing these same plumes when the pairing 
time comes round. While the eggs are being laid and 
sat upon, his plumage is fading, and before long a 
moult begins. In June or about that time his faded 
finery is shed and replaced by a dull garb very similar 
to that of the Duck. Even earlier, towards the end 
of May, he drops his big wing feathers, and, since they 
all go nearly at the same time, he is incapable of 
flight. Till then, he has been a most dutiful partner, 
watching over his mate upon the nest, and warning 
her if there happens to be danger when she is leaving 
it to refresh herself with a bath and food. When his 
moulting begins she is left to herself, and often has, 
unaided, to take her young ones to the water and 
educate them. By the end of July the Mallard is 
again possessed of fully grown remiges, but his dull 
plumes are still upon him, and it is not till October 
that he sheds these, and once more looks his best. 
The Duck does not moult till her young ones are off 
her hands. Geese, like Ducks, shed their quill feathers 
all at once, and, standing, tumbled and helpless, pre- 
sent a truly pitiful sight. It is only some water-birds 
who moult in such haste. When the time comes for 
it, they are very careful to be on or near the water so 
that in case of danger, they may make use of what is 
now their only means of escape, their power of 
swimming. Mr.Seebohm describes a great procession 
