THE HARLEQUIN DUCKS. 3I 



I. THE HARLEQUIN DUCK. COSMONETTA HISTRIONICA. 



A/ias histrionica^ Linn. S. N. i. p. 204 (1766). 

 Chfigula histrionka, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 169 (1852). 

 Cositionetta histrionica^ Dresser, B, Eur. vi. p. 609, pis. 600 

 613 (1877); B.O. U. ListBr. B. p. 132 (1883); Saunders, 

 ed. Yarr. Br. B. iv. p. 452 (1885); id. Man. Br. B. p. 445 

 (1889) ; Lilford, Col. Fig. Brit. B. part xxx. (1895); Sal- 

 vad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 395 (1895). 

 Histrionicus 7ni?t7itus, Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 613 (1877). 

 FiiUgula histriofiica, Seebohm, Br. B. iii. p. 594 (1885). 

 (Plate LXI.) 

 Adult Male. — General colour above slaty-blue, the scapulars 

 white edged with slaty-blue and forming a band down each 

 side of the back; lower back duller slate-colour; rump anc 

 upper tail-coverts purplish-black, with a few white-tipped 

 feathers on each side of the latter; tail sooty-black; wing- 

 coverts dark slaty-grey; two of the median coverts with a 

 round white spot; the central greater coverts tipped with white, 

 before which is a bar of metallic-purple; bastard-wing, primary- 

 coverts, and primaries blackish-brown, the latter lighter brown 

 on the inner webs ; the secondaries externally purplish-blue, 

 the inner ones for the most part white, bordered with black on 

 the outer webs and grey on the inner ones ; centre of crown 

 blue-black, bordered on each side by a broad band of chestnut, 

 which is separated on its anterior part by a line of white, which 

 is continuous with a white patch occupying the lores and fore- 

 part of cheeks ; eyebrow, sides of head, and neck dark slaty- 

 blue, reheved by a white spot on the ear-coverts and another 

 band of white skirting the sides of the nape ; round the lower 

 throat a white collar, skirted above and oelow by a purplish- 

 black band and almost meeting on the hind-neck ; fore-neck 

 and chest light slaty blue like the mantle, with which it is con- 

 tinuous ; on either side of the chest a broad vertical band of 

 white, bordered above and below with purplish-black ; re- 

 mainder of under surface from the chest downwards dark 

 smoky-brown, inclining to purplish-black on the sides of the 

 vent and under tail-coverts; sides of the body bright chestnut; 

 axillaries and under wing coverts smoky-brown, some of the 

 latter with whitish edges ; bill dark leaden-blue, the nail lighter 



