202 
THE MALLARD. 
cence of dress ; than which scarcely any thing 
throughout the whole wild field of nature can be 
seen more lovely, or better arranged to charm the 
eye of man. This description of the change of 
plumage in the mallard has been penned down with 
great care. I enclosed two male birds in a coop, 
from the middle of May to the middle of October, 
and saw them every day during the whole of their 
captivity. Perhaps the moulting in other indi- 
viduals may vary a trifle with regard to time. Thus 
we may say that once every year, for a very short 
period, the drake goes, as it were, into an eclipse ; 
so that, from the early part of the month of July^ 
to about the first week in August, neither in the 
poultry-yards of civilised man, nor through the vast 
expanse of Nature's wildest range, can there be 
found a drake in that plumage which, at all other 
seasons of the year, is so remarkably splendid and 
diversified. 
Though I dislike the cold and dreary months of 
winter as much as any man can well dislike them, 
still I always feel sorry when the returning sun pre- 
pares the way for the wildfowl to commence their 
annual migratory journey into the unknown regions i 
of the north. Their flights through the heavens, and ! 
their sportings on the pool, never fail to impart both 
pleasure and instruction to me. When the time of 
their departure comes, I bid my charming harmless 
company farewell, and from my heart I wish them a 
safe return- 
