190 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



the same year only three pairs were seen and these at widely separated 

 localities. They frequent the icy, turbulent mountain streams, seem- 

 ing to share with the Ouzels a love for the noisiest parts of the rivers. 

 During the breeding season they are very shy and retiring, being 

 seldom seen in pairs, the male and female remaining separated and 

 frequenting different parts of the stream (Kaeding, 18986, p. 77). 



Raine {in Macoun and Macoun, 1909, p. 106) describes a nest 

 found on the Mackenzie River as being "... built on a high bank 

 near some ice-fioes, under sticks piled up by the overflow water in 

 the spring." The eggs are described as being similar to those of the 

 Gadwall and Baldpate, but are of a deeper buff tint and average 

 larger. All accounts seem to agree that this duck nests as a rule on the 

 ground near swiftly-running streams; yet in Newfoundland nests 

 have been found in hollow trees. 



The Harlequin Duck is rare enough in the United States to excite keen 

 interest, especially when found on its breeding grounds. A little flock of the 

 richly barred and spotted beauties fishing in a foaming mountain stream, diving, 

 bobbing on the rough surface, drifting or darting down over the rapids, and 

 then gathering in a bunch below to fly back up stream for another descent, 

 suggests a lot of schoolboys on a coasting party rather than a flock of birds 

 engaged in the serious business of getting breakfast. They seem to enjoy the 

 icy water and their power to dare and buffet its torrents (V. Bailey in Bailey, 

 1902, p. 62). 



Belding (1891, p. 98) describes his first sight of this rare duck 

 in California, discovered while hunting with a companion in the 

 Sierras in 1879, as follows: "While we were separated, a strange 

 duck which he had probably frightened, but did not see, flew down 

 the canyon and alighted within twenty yards of me, bent its neck 

 forward close to the water, lifted its wings and uttered a scream I 

 had never heard." Belding states further that he has often seen 

 this duck since that time on the Stanislaus River, and has occasionally 

 seen it on other neighboring streams but that of late years it has 

 become rare owing to its destruction by fishermen, who shoot the birds 

 on sight. 



Mailliard (MS) states that in the fall of 1913 hundreds of young 

 Harlequin Ducks were to be seen in scattered flocks on Tomales Bay, 

 Marin County. At the same time adult males were noted on the open 

 ocean off Tomales Point. In June, 1880, many were seen on the water 

 just outside the surf at Point Reyes. 



A further idea of their habits when found along the seacoast can 

 be had from the following quotations, which ai)ply to Alaska: "At 

 Coronation Island many were seen feeding among the rocks at the 

 water's edge, and were very tame and easily approached. ... At 



