MALLARD. 
Ill 
dark green curled feathers of the tail, showing a 
development or variation carried out in other parts 
or in other ways among the members of this or 
other very nearly allied genera. The young males 
in their first dress resemble the female, but before 
winter-time they have nearly assumed the com- 
plete breeding stato of the adults. The males, after 
the season of incubation has passed, lose the green 
head and distinguishing plumage of the upper parts 
and become of a more sombre tint, with markings 
similar to the female, but from which they may be 
at all times distinguished ; and late in autumn they 
again resume their proper dress, which is completed 
and thickened before winter commences. The wild 
duck is sometimes subject to variety ; we have seen 
drakes having the upper parts of a bluish grey, the 
dark breast paler; and we possess a duck shot 
from a flock which has the wings and part of the 
head and neck white ; we did not consider this to 
be a tame bird mixing with the others. Mr. Yar- 
rcll also states having once or twice seen females 
having partially assumed the male plumage, which 
we have little doubt sometimes occurs, though we 
have not fallen in with examples of it. 
It is among the birds which constitute our pre- 
sent genus that we place also those which have 
been denominated Teals, and which, from the vari- 
ous generic appellations that have been bestowed 
upon many of them, show that there is a variation 
