LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL 53 



in the same manner as the eiders. When discovered in one of these small 

 inland lakes, the mother emits a lisping note of admonition, on which she and 

 the young dive at once, and the latter make for the shores, where they conceal 

 themselves, while the former rises at a good distance, and immediately taking 

 to wing, leaves the place for awhile. On searching along the shores for the 

 young, we observed that, on being approached, they ran to the water and dived 

 toward the opposite side, continuing their endeavors thus to escape, until so 

 fatigued that we caught four out of six. When at sea, they are as difficult 

 to be caught as the young eiders. 



Mr. Millais (1913) says that the period of incubation is said to 

 be three and one-half weeks. 



It is presumed that the young are at first fed by the old bird direct from 

 the bill, as newly hatched young always hold their bills upward to the beak 

 of the foster parent, and will not at first pick up food for themselves. At 

 first the food is principally the larvae of Ephemerae. The down period of the 

 young is said by Faber to be about 40 days. 



Mr. O. J. Miirie has sent me the following interesting notes on 

 the behavior of young harlequin ducks: 



The harlequins acquire their love for rough water early, for the young are 

 brought up among the rapids of northern rivers. Several broods of these 

 ducklings were found on the Swampy Bay River, in northern Ungava. I saw 

 the first family one day when we had paddled across the swift current above 

 a rapid, to hunt for a portage. As we floated into a sheltered eddy near 

 shore, a band of ducklings swam quietly out past our canoe. They appeared 

 singularly unconcerned and unafraid. At first I did not recognize them as 

 harlequins and they all looked the same size to me. But one of the Indians 

 declared one of them was the mother. They swam around the base of a huge 

 bowlder and headed deliberately into the swift water. In astonishment I 

 watched them go bouncing down the rapid, around the bend out of sight. 



A few days later I witnessed a still better exhibition. We stopped to camp 

 at the head of a rapid which culminated in an abrupt fall of 20 or 30 feet. 

 Here we found some more harlequins. I got two young and the mother be- 

 tween me and the fall and attempted to corner them for a photograph. There 

 was but a narrow lane of comparatively quiet water near shore. As I neared 

 the little group the mother flew upstream, and the little ones spattered up 

 over the water, actually entering the edge of the swift current in order to 

 get by me. Upon repeating the performance several times, I had an oppor- 

 tunity to perceive their wonderful knowledge of currents and their skill in 

 navigating them. Finally, when pressing them close for a near approach, 

 they again entered the swift water. At the same time the mother came flying 

 low and passed downstream. This time the youngsters were evidently caught, 

 for the current carried them out of sight over the falls. With a feeling of 

 remorse I looked below. I had not intended to be the means of their destruc- 

 tion. At first I could distinguish nothing among the ripples and the foam- 

 flecked current below. Then I saw them floating along, rising to shake the 

 water from their down, then quietly preening themselves. Although they had 

 clearly endeavored to avoid the falls, they were none the worse for the accident 

 when it did happen. 



Plumages. — The downj^ young is " bister " or " Front's brown " 

 above, including the top of the head down to the level of the eyes, 



