84 HARLEQUIN DUCK. 
London market by Mr. Yarrell. In Cheshire one, a female, was 
shot by the gamekeeper of Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton, 
Bart. 
In Scotland a pair were formerly obtained by Lord Seaford; 
another was shot near Gordon Castle, on the Spey, Banffshire, 
in October, 1851. In Orkney one, a female, has occurred. 
During its summer migration, says Selby, it is found upon 
the coast, and frequently in deep water, at a considerable 
distance from land. 
When not in pairs these Ducks are seen in flocks, being 
sociable among themselves. They are very shy birds, it is 
said, making off on wing at the slightest alarm. The male 
and female seem much attached to each other. 
They dive with quick expertness, swim equally well, frequently 
nodding the head, but fly in a more laboured manner, the 
wings being short and quickly beaten. 
They feed on different kinds of shell-fish, small fry, insects 
and their larve, frogs, tadpoles, and water-plants. 
The note resembles the syllables ‘eck, eck,’ and is constantly 
repeated. 
The Harlequin builds among low bushes and plants, in the 
precincts of streams and lakes, and the neighbourhood of the 
sea, not far from the water’s edge; and ‘feathers its nest’ 
with down from its own breast, the outerside materials being 
dry leaves, stalks, grass, and reeds, arranged in a circular 
manner to the height of two or three inches. 
The eggs are from five or six to seven in number, rarely 
more than the former, according to Audubon, but some say 
as many as eight, ten, or twelve, and of a white or very pale 
buff colour, with a tinge of green. “The texture of the egg 
is very fine, but without polish.’ | 
The female is very attentive to her brood. The male leaves 
them to her care and returns to the sea. 
Male; length, one foot five inches; bill, bluish black; iris, 
orange reddish brown, behind it is a large white space, which 
colour goes backward to the nape on the sides of the head 
in two narrow bands, and below it is another stripe of bright 
chesnut, the middle band from the bill to the hind part of 
the head and down the neck velvet black, thus bordered on 
each side by the white lines already mentioned. Head on the 
sides, crown, neck, and nape, blackish grey, glossed with purple 
violet, with the exception of the white and brown streaks 
just spoken of, the white spot on the hinder part of the sides 
