HARLEQUIN DUCK. 



597 



a black streak reaches from the base of the bill to the nape ; beyond the 

 ear-coverts is an irregular oval white patch ; on each side of the neck a 

 broad stripe of white ; round the lower neck a white ring ; on the sides of 

 the breast another white stripe ; two smallish white spots on the wing, one 

 on the lesser wing-coverts and one on the tij)s of the greater wing-coverts ; 

 a longitudinal stripe of white on the scapulars ; triangular white markings 

 on the outer webs of the innermost secondaries, which are filamented ; 

 and a white spot on the outermost under tail-coverts ; except the spot on 

 the lesser wing-coverts and the stripe on the scapulars, these eccentric 

 white markings are emphasized by a margin of black ; axillaries and under 

 wing-coverts brown ; flanks chestnut ; the wings and tail-feathers are 

 brown, with a metallic purple speculum on the central secondai'ies. Bill 

 dark slate-grey, paler on the nail ; legs and feet brown, darker on the 

 webs; irides hazel. The adult female is an almost uniform brown, with 

 an obscure white patch between the eye and the bill, separated into two 

 by a brown line across the lores ; a similar obscure white patch is to be 

 found on the neck, and the breast and belly are mottled with white. 

 Young in first plumage closely resemble adult females, but are more suffused 

 with brown on the breast and chin and on the white spot between the eve 

 and the bill. Young males are slightly darker than females on the upj^er 

 parts. Males in first nuptial dress are mottled with white on the chin and 

 throat, the belly is sufi'used with brown, and there is scarcely any chestnut 

 on the flanks, and the white on the scapulars is very restricted. Males in 

 moulting-dress are doubtless intermediate in colour between males in first 

 plumage and males in first nuptial plumage ; but examples in moulting- 

 plumage appear to be unknown. Young in down are described and figured 

 by Middendorff as having the upper parts dark brown, abruptly defined 

 from the white underparts, but extending slightly on the breast and flanks, 

 and with a pair of white spots on the side of the rump, and a second pair on 

 the wings. 



