1876.] REEKS— ON BIRDS OP NEWFOUNDLAND. 301 



Harlequin JDucJc, Histrionicus torquatus (^Linn.) — A common 

 summer migrant, and breeds on the borders of lakes and rivers 

 flowing into the sea, frequently many miles in the country, 

 whence it brings its young in July, The male of this species, 

 which is called a " lord " in Newfoundland, is decidedly the 

 handsomest little duck inhabiting those cold regions, and is a 

 most expert diver. It seems extraordinary that any bird when 

 quietly settled on the water, and within twenty yards of you, 

 should escape by diving from the shot of a percussion gun ; but 

 how far more astonishing is it that birds on the wing, and within 

 easy range, should employ the same device, and yet the little 

 " lords '' and "ladies" (females) frequently escape by doing so! 

 The amateur sportsman, unacquainted with this fact, is amazed 

 at his own prowess, when, having shot at eight or ten of these 

 birds on the wing, he sees the whole flock drop apparently ''stone 

 dead" into the water; but his vexation perhaps exceeds his 

 amazement when, in a few seconds, he again sees his little flock 

 of harlequins on wing, and that too just out of range for his 

 second barrel. The harlequin duck is frequently found sitting 

 on rocks many feet above the water, but, from its small size and 

 resemblance to the parti-coloured rocks, is very difficult to see in 

 time to get a shot by stalking. Adult males are generally 

 distinguished as "old lords," and females as "jennies.'' 



Long-tailed Duck, Harelda glacialis (^Linn.) — This handsome 

 species is very common all along the coast in fall and spring, — 

 in fact, as long there is any open water throughout the winter ; 

 but I think does not breed anywhere in Newfoundland, although I 

 have an adult male, in summer plumage, which was shot at Cow 

 Head on the 13th of June, 1868. 



To the naturalist and sportsman there can be few more 

 interesting sights than seeing several hundreds of " hounds," as 

 these birds are called by the settlers, in a flock, and hearing their 

 clamorous cry of " Cow-cow-wit;" " Cow-cow-wit," which, when 

 borne on the breeze from a distance, has a fancied resemblance to 

 a pack of hounds in full cry, and, however fanciful the comparison, 

 it always proved sufficiently obvious to recall many pleasant 

 reminiscences of bygone days. The longtailed ducks usually 

 frequent shoals and beds of "killup" (kelp) in one to five fathoms 

 of water, but I have seen them diving for food in thirty fathoms 

 of water. Like many other oceanic birds they are expert divers, 

 and it is sometimes almost impossible to kill them when sitting on 



