The Mallard 23 
and straight about July 6, commence, about August 15, whilst still in their 
brown colour, to curl upwards. After this date they grow rapidly and continue 
to curl, changing colour to jet black till, by September 25, they are usually 
quite complete. 
While, during the autumn, the whole of the plumage has been under- 
going a change of colour to a more sombre hue, the other parts of the old 
drake have suffered in like manner; for as soon as, or even slightly before, 
the beauty of plumage vanishes, the bill fades to a dull greenish-yellow, and 
the legs, losing their bright orange, assume a dull greenish yellow with black 
webs, only gradually resuming their former brilliance when the full winter 
plumage is nearing completion. 
By October 10 the old drake has, to all intents and purposes, assumed 
his full winter plumage, and yet, in point of colour, some little changes remain 
to be made, and will be brought about before the close of winter. As that 
period approaches superabundant markings gradually appear on (i) the white 
collar of the neck; (2) the space of new feathers on the top of the breast; 
(3) the white edging of the chestnut chest feathers, and (4) the markings on 
the tails. 
Nor is this the end of the transformation scene. Nature never halts in 
her progress. All the parts I have just mentioned undergo a certain toning 
down. The white collar, instead of being somewhat straggling and broad, as 
at first, becomes regular and narrower ; the space of nearly white feathers at 
the junction of the chest and breast becomes grey and ribbed like the rest of 
the breast; and generally the white edging of the chest feathers nearly dis- 
appears. The tail too becomes whiter, and the grey ribbing fainter, and though 
from March i to June i but little change takes place, perhaps a slightly 
richer tone of warm russet brown suffuses the back of the neck as far as the 
scapulars, and a few of the feathers of the scapulars themselves may share in 
the improvement. 
