THE MALLARD. 



201 



October the same bird brought out a second brood 

 of eleven. In an evil hour they strayed too far from 

 the water. A tame raven met them on their travels, 

 and killed every bird. 



At the close of the breeding season, the drake 

 undergoes a very remarkable change of plumage : 

 on viewing it, all speculation on the part of the 

 ornithologist is utterly confounded ; for there is not 

 the smallest clue afforded him, by which he may be 

 enabled to trace out the cause of the strange phe- 

 nomenon. To Him alone, who has ordered the 

 ostrich to remain on the earth, and allowed the bat 

 to range through the ethereal vault of heaven, is 

 known why the drake, for a very short period of the 

 year, should be so completely clothed in the raiment 

 of the female, that it requires a keen and penetrating 

 eye to distinguish the one from the other. About 

 the 24th of May, the breast and back of the drake 

 exhibit the first appearance of a change of colour. 

 In a few days after this, the curled feathers above 

 the tail drop out, and grey feathers begin to appear 

 amongst the lovely green plumage which surrounds 

 the eyes. Every succeeding day now brings marks 

 of rapid change. By the 23d of June scarcely one 

 single green feather is to be seen on the head and 

 neck of the bird. By the 6th of July every feather 

 of the former brilliant plumage has made its disap- 

 pearance, and the male has received a garb like that 

 of the female, though of a somewhat darker tint. 

 In the early part of August this new plumage begins 

 to change gradually, and by the 10th of October 

 the drake will appear again in all his rich magnifi- 



