172 THE NESrS AND EGGS OF 



The favourite haunts of the Harlequin Duck are swift- 

 flowing rivers and streams, such as are broken up into 

 falls and rapids being preferred. It has been stated 

 that this species nests in holes on the banks of rivers 

 and in tree-trunks, but this is probably erroneous. 

 Reliable authorities state that the nest is made upon the 

 ground close to the edge of the stream, but I cannot 

 find that it has ever been seen i7t situ, or described by 

 a competent naturalist. Of the pairing habits of this 

 beautiful Duck nothing apparently is known. It seems 

 marvellous that the nesting economy of a bird breeding 

 as near to our shores as Iceland should be so utterly 

 unknown, or that what little information we do possess 

 should be so unreliable. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Harlequin Duck are from eight to ten 

 in number, six or seven being the average clutch. They 

 are smooth in texture, with some polish, and according 

 to Mr. Raine, who has received upwards of 200 eggs of 

 this bird from his collector in Iceland within the past 

 five years, are " deep rich buff, some having a yellowish 

 tinge, others are pale buffy cinnamon." Average measure- 

 ment, 22 inches in length by 17 inch in breadth. 

 Incubation is apparently performed by the female, but 

 the duration of the period is unknown. 



Diagnostic characters: The eggs of the Harlequin 

 Duck somewhat closely resemble those of the Smew in 

 colour, but may always be distinguished by their richer 

 tint, larger size, and heavier shell-weight. The down is 

 described by Mr. Raine as " dark grayish-brown," which 

 is also a further point of distinction, that of the Smew 

 being very pale grayish-white. 



