CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. IO5 



LVIII. HISTRIONICUS Lesson. 1828. 

 155. Harlequin Duck. 



Histrionicus histrionicus (Linn.) Boucard. 1876. 



Observed on the east coast of Greenland; most common between 

 lat. 62° to 65° N.; rarer to the northward. {Arct. Man.) Breeds 

 at Godthavn, Vestbjord and other places in Greenland. {Winge.) 

 A common summer migrant in Newfoundland, breeding on the 

 borders of lakes and rivers. (Reeks.) A rare winter migrant 

 around Nova Scotia. {Doivns; H. F. Tufts.) A rare spring and 

 autumn visitant in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) 



Abundant in Hudson strait — breeds in Ungava bay; plentiful on 

 the eastern coast of Labrador. (Ttirner.) This bird was most 

 numerous during the month of June at Cape Wales, Hudson strait. 

 Apparently it does not breed, as it disappeared after that date. 

 (Payne.) Forster recorded a specimen from the Hudson ba}-' region, 

 Biakiston says he examined one at York Factory and a specimen is 

 recorded from James bay. (Preble.) Occasional in Quebec and 

 Ontario. 



Richardson and Ross both speak of this being a rare bird toward 

 the north and along the Arctic coast. Richardson sa3^s it frequents 

 eddies under cascades and in rapid streams in the north. Dr. 

 Coues found it breeding in turbulent streams entering Chief Moun- 

 tain lake (Waterton lake), near the 49th parallel; and the writer, 

 in July, 1885, found a mother and a young brood in a very rapid 

 stream entering Kicking Horse lake at Hector, Rocky mountains, 

 on the Canadian Pacific railway, at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Spread- 

 borough found this species breeding at Canmore, near Banff, Rocky 

 mountains, in June, 1891. A pair was shot, and others seen. He 

 saw five on the Arrow lakes, May i8th, 1902. During the summer 

 of 1898, this species was seen in many of the mountain tributaries 

 of the Athabasca by the same observer. Both Nelson and Turner 

 mention this bird as very common in the bays and along the coasts 

 of Alaska, but it does not breed on the coast. Later collectors in 

 Alaska do not appear to have found this bird to be very common. 

 Nelson says it breeds on the clear streams of the interior, which 

 agrees with our knowledge further to the south. Fannin says: "An 

 abundant resident; breeds along the creeks close to the salt water 



