THE HARLEQUIN DUCK. 807 



are ncit easily seen e\'en at close quarters. It is useless to seek them as game, 

 however, for they are expert divers, and as a consequence rank animal feeders. 



INIore frequently than an_\' other species, tliev are found entangled in fish 

 nets whither they ha\e gone in pursuit of tinny prey; and upon the Great 

 Lakes, where winter trapping is nmre common, they are sometimes taken dead 

 in six fathoms of water. 



The Old-Squaw lea\es us earl\- in March and retires to high northern 

 latitudes to breed, being found at the ai.)propriate season fr(_)m the Barren 

 Grounds of Alaska to Grinnell Land. 



No. 325. 



HARLEQUIN DUCK. 



A. O. LT. X(). 153. Histrionicus histrionicus (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — LoRO and L.m>y. P.mnted Duck. Rock Difcic. Mount.vin 

 Duck. 



Description. — Adult male: Prevailing color plumbeous slate tinged with 

 purplish, darkening on head and neck, blackening on top of head, lower back, 

 rump, and tail, changing on underparts behind breast (including lining of wings) 

 to sooty brown, on flanks to lighter brown : plumage strikingly crossed and slashed 

 with white; a large wing-shaped patch at base of bill produced above as lateral 

 crown-stripe, where yielding to light chestnut posteriorly ; a clear-cut rounded spot 

 behind auriculars ; lengthened patch on side of neck ; a narrow transverse ])atch at 

 base of neck on side, meeting its fellow, or not, in front and behind ; a crescentic 

 patch on side of breast before wing, the last two patches sharply defined by 

 bordering black ; a white spot on wing-coverts ; a white bar across the ends of the 

 greater coverts and some of the secondaries ; scapulars and outer webs of the 

 iimer secondaries chiefly white ; and, lastly, a small white patch on side of rump ; 

 speculinn metallic violet or purplish. Bill blackish or horn-blue to olivaceous ; 

 irides reddish-brow n ; feet greenish-dusky with black webs. Perfect plumage is 

 not acquired till the third season. Young males differ chiefly in the purity of the 

 colors, those of the second season ha\-ing some grayish brown edging on the wings, 

 and flanks finely barred, light brown and fuscous. Adult female: General plumage 

 plain dark brown, changing thru brownish-gray of upperparts to whitish on belly. 

 Of the white spots of the male only the two anterior ones are represented, and of 

 these the facial patch is much obscured by brownish. Length of male 16.00-17.50 

 (406.4-444.5) ; wing 7.50 ( 190.5) ; tail 3.50 (88.9) ; bill 1.12 (28.5) ; tarsus 1.30 

 ( 33 ). Female a little smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Teal to Crow size; plumbeous coloration with white 

 stripes of male unmistakable ; female obscure as to color, but following propor- 

 tions of male, small bill, high at base, etc. 



Nesting. — Xest: in vicinity of wild mountain streams, under logs, tree-roots, 

 drift, rocks, etc., of weeds and grasses, lined with down. Eggs: 6-10. pale buffy 

 or creamy white. Av. size, 2.30x1.60 (58.4x40.6). Season: April-AIay ; one 

 brood. 



