28 The Natural History of British Ducks 
appearance, the buff tips of the feathers being often so nearly worn off that 
the whole bird has a very dark appearance, whereas the old drakes have 
long ago completely changed, and some are even capable of flight, in their 
new brown dress. Even as late as the middle of September I have seen 
old ducks, with their young only half fledged, which have not yet moulted 
a feather. 
Very noticeable during the end of the nesting season is the wonderful 
provision of Nature, which makes one law for the males and another for the 
females ; for, whilst the former are skulking in parties in the reed beds, 
incapable of flight, the latter, now fitted for a life of activity, have to care for 
their little ones, teaching them to fly, and guiding them to the best feeding 
grounds at night. It would almost seem that to maintain the necessary 
power of flight the female Mallard can of her own accord retain her old 
plumage as long as she likes, and does not, therefore, allow herself to suffer 
blood exhaustion by moult until her duties are accomplished, and the strain 
of maternal cares at an end. Moreover, should she commence to moult (as 
she occasionally does) before the young can take care of themselves, she does 
not generally moult all her quills simultaneously, as the males do, but casts 
them unevenly or alternately, retaining a sufficiency of intermixed new and 
old primaries to support her in her flight. 
I have often seen a dog catch a moulting female who had shed too 
many of her old quills at once, and whose new ones were not quite 
sufficiently strong to bear her ; but, as a rule, many females can fly freely 
throughout their moult. 
Though, as previously stated, the adult female Mallard commences her 
autumn moult into winter dress at a later date than the male, she never- 
theless, by a more or less hurried change, attains, about the same time, her 
complete winter garb. 
