CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 617 



HISTRIONICUS, Less. 



H. histrionicus, L. (torquatus Abbott's Catalogue.) Harlequin Duck. 

 Male, in winter, speculum dark violet blue; plumage in general 

 bluish, much varied with white; sides bright rufous; in summer,- 

 much duller ; speculum, under tail coverts, sides, &c., grayish 

 brown ; female like summer male, but head, neck and chest 

 grayish brown, with some white on head. Length, 17 inches. 



" Very rare, and seen only on the sea-board. Young birds 

 appear to be met with only. Is a northern species. Know of 

 but two specimens, both killed off Tuckerton." [C. C. A.] 



OAMTOLAIMUS, Gray. 



O. labradorius, Gmel. Labrador Duck. Sand-shoal Duck. 



Male black, with head, neck, chest, scapulars and wings 

 (except quills) white ; female brownish gray. Length, 22 inches. 

 Now (1889) practically extinct. 



" Not abundant. Arrives in October, and in small flocks is 

 found along our sea-board generally. Leaves in April " (1867). 

 [C. C. A.] 



SOMATERIA, Leach. 



S. dresseri, Sbarpe (niollissima, L.) American Eider Duck. 



Male, in breeding plumage, white, with under parts, rump, 

 quills and crown, black, bordered by pale green on head ; female 

 reddish brown, streaked and barred ; bill with long, club-shaped 

 frontal processes. Length, 24 inches. 



" Rare. Appears in November, and straggling single birds 

 occasionally shot during the winter, especially about Baruegat." 

 [C. C. A.] 



S. spectabilis, L. King Eider. 



Male chiefly black ; top of head bluish gray ; front parts 

 white, with a V-shaped black mark on throat ; frontal processes 

 broad and out of line with culmen ; female brownish streaked 

 and barred, as in other species of Somateria, but with the feather- 

 ing on forehead reaching to the nostril. Length a little smaller 

 than preceding. Its southern range in winter is marked by our 

 northern boundaries. 



