Ttts LABRADOR DUCK. 



extraordinary beauty and elegant bearing of the species. Its range is throughout North 

 America generally, chiefly northerly and coastwise. It reaches on the Atlantic coast in winter 

 as far as the Middle States, and on the Western as far as California. It breeds on the Rocky 

 Mountains. It is more of a maritime species than otherwise. 



At Hudson's Bay it is called Painted Duck, and after the term Harlequin this is a most 

 expressive name. Harlequin, however, it is, essentially, for its markings suggest it to all, we 

 should presume. It is difficult to say which is the more beautiful, this or the wood Duck. 

 Perhaps the term beautiful will apply appropriately to the latter, while handsome or extremely 

 singular will naturally apply to the Harlequin Duck. It has, under the names of Lord and 

 Lady, been rarely seen off the New England coast, a few being taken every winter. It is now 

 much less common, and is thought to be quite near extinction. It is small, though larger 

 than the butter-ball. Its length is seventeen inches, and extent of wing twenty -eight inches. 

 The female is a little less, and is very nearly like the male, the head and neck being almost 

 identical in coloration. It bred in Audubon's time, at Grand Manan, in Nova Scotia, and 

 Labrador. 



THE OLD SQTJAW (Harelda glacialis). This bird inhabits the northern hemisphere gener- 

 ally. It is chiefly maritime, though it resorts to the Great Lakes. The term Long-tailed 

 Duck is given it in some quarters, on account of the very exceptional ornament for a Duck, 

 the long central tail-feathers. It is also called South-Southerly, and Old Wife. We have 

 seen this Duck in large flocks, riding the sea just off the shores of Lynn and Nahant, in 

 Massachusetts, where they spent the colder season. They were always near enough to hear 

 their Old Wife cackling, and proved always a cheerful accompaniment to the rolling winter 

 seas that beat upon the old, maritime town of Lynn. Other species were occasionally noticed, 

 as the velvet Duck and scoter, but the Old Wives were the regular occupants of the bay. Its 

 flesh is not desirable as an edible. Audubon says: "The range of this noisy, lively, and 

 beautiful Duck extends along our coast to Texas, and is also found at the mouth of the 

 Columbia River, but is never found on any fresh water courses. They are what our gunners 

 call sea-ducks. Although, like all sea-ducks, the Old Wife swims deeply, it moves with a 

 grace and celerity which, if not superior to any of its tribe, are at least equal." Like others 

 of its tribe, it likes to swim against the wind or tide, as it is then easy for it to rise on wing. 

 It breeds from Labrador, northwards to the Arctic regions. The female has no long tail- 

 feathers, nor the white wing-feathers, and is quite plain in color. The male's summer plumage 

 is like that of winter in form, but in color the whole upper parts are reddish-brown, the head 

 being capped with black, and broad, white cheek-spots encircle the eyes. The breast and under 

 parts are alike in both seasons. 



The length of the male is twenty-two inches, that of the female about the same ; extent of 

 wing is thirty inches. It is thought to be the swiftest of its tribe, and is certainly the most 

 difficult bird to approach and shoot. While sitting on the water it is rarely shot, as it dives 

 at the flash of a gun. 



LABRADOR DUCK (Camptolamus labradorius), or Pied Duck, so called in some quarters. 

 This bird is now practically extinct. None have been found during the last fifteen years, at least. 



Wilson spoke of it as " rather a rare Duck on our coasts, and it is never met with on our 

 fresh-water lakes and rivers." It is called by some Sand-shoal Duck. On Long Islan i it is 

 known as Skunk Duck, on account of its pied markings. Its flesh is dry and fishy. Wilson 

 says : " It is only seen here during winter, when a few are observed in our market. Of their 

 particular manners, place, or mode of breeding, nothing more is known." It seems, then, that 

 the bird has for a long time been scarce, though my friend, Mr. Lawrence, the eminent orni- 

 thologist of New York, tells me he has frequently seen them in the markets of the city. This 

 was twenty years since. 



Four fine examples of this bird, two males in full plumage, a young male, and a female, 

 are in the Museum of Natural History, Central Park, New York. They are now regarded as 

 valuable as the great auk. 



Vol. II. 77. 



