HARLEQUIN DUCK. 85 
of the head, and another white streak running down the sides 
of the neck near the back part, originating between the white 
spot and the junction of the two other lines on the nape. 
Chin and throat, black, with a purple violet gloss: between 
the latter and the breast is a white band, edged narrowly 
below with black. The breast is crossed at the middle by a 
crescent-shaped band of white, bordered above and below with 
black; the upper part between the two bands is bluish grey, 
the lower part below the second one dusky greyish black, 
darker, becoming deep reddish brown, towards the under tail 
coverts; the sides are rufous chesnut, and near the tail are a 
few large strong feathers with white tips, which make a smali 
but distinct spot. The back on the upper part is purple 
grey, on the middle brownish black, with a bloom of deep 
blue or purple grey, on the lower part dusky black. 
The wings have the first quill feather the longest; greater 
wing coverts, bluish black, tipped with white; of the lesser 
wing coverts some are white, with a narrow greyish border to 
the feathers; primaries, dull brownish black; secondaries, also 
black, the outer webs forming the speculum are brownish 
black, glossed with deep blue; tertiaries, white on the outer 
webs, bordered with blackish brown. ‘Tail, dusky black; under 
tail coverts, bluish black; legs and toes, dull bluish dusky 
black; webs, dusky. 
The moult takes place, Audubon says, in July and August. 
In the female the general plumage is sooty brown. Length, 
one foot two or three inches; before and behind the eye are 
patches of white; forehead, whitish; neck in front mottled 
with two shades of brown. Chin and throat, greyish white. 
Breast above, mottled with two shades of brown, below 
whitish, the sides also of two shades of yellowish brown and 
brownish grey, the flanks brown. Back, reddish brown, the 
margins of the feathers paler. 
The young male in the first year resembles the female. The 
white collar is not gained till after the second moult. 
According to Audubon, the young male in its first winter 
has the white spot over the eye mottled with grey, the lne 
extending over the eye obscure, and the edging of the occiput 
faint reddish brown; bill, dusky. Head and neck, dull leaden 
biue, the crown darker; the two white marks exist on the 
neck, but are merely edged with darker blue; there are some 
indications of the white collar, and the band before the wing 
is marked, but much smaller than in the adult bird. In the 
