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Kong, to which he replied, that "it would be easier to send a pair of mandarins than a pair of mandarin ducks." But thanks to the benefits resulting from acclimatisation, I found, during my recent visit to London, that I could have purchased them from the Zoological Society of London for six guineas the pair—less than one-half the amount demanded for them in China, and not then procurable even at their own exorbitant price. They were thus introduced into Europe: Two pairs reached a skilful amateur at Rotterdam, and from these individuals the whole of the birds of this species now in Europe have descended. This bird appears to be indigenous to the country north of Pekin, whence the mandarins at Canton and in the south generally obtain a supply for their aviaries.
There is a fact in connection with the rearing of this bird which ought not to be passed unnoticed. In my work before alluded to, I stated that the male bird in its native country loses its gay plumage in May, and remains until August in a dress which bears a close resemblance to that of the female; and as it was desirable to ascertain if a similar change took place in England, the following was the report as given by Mr. Gould. The first egg was laid on the 2nd of May, the female began to sit on the 20th, and the young were hatched on the 20th of June. When the female commenced sitting the male began to throw off his fine plumage, and by the 1st of July had become so like the female as to be scarcely distinguishable; the primary feathers, which are only moulted once a-year, were not fully perfected until the 3rd of August; these feathers were then beautifully green, with a narrow stripe of snow white about an inch in length from their tips. The bill at this period was less brilliant, and the old male, female and progeny were all so similar in size and colour as to render it difficult to distinguish one from the other—all having a beautiful olive-mottle plumage, both chaste and elegant. By the beginning of October, the young males of the broods, as well as the old drakes, had all assumed their full and gorgeous livery—the youthful birds being scarcely inferior in beauty to the adults. A more interesting and lovely sight was never seen in the gardens of the Zoological Society, rich as it has been in objects of the highest interest, than was to he observed in the aviary containing a double brood of mandarin ducks. At least ten out of the sixteen birds were males, which during a part of the day were frequently to be seen perched upon the branches of trees, and at others were exhibiting in the proudest manner their lovely hues while swimming in the oval stone
