SEA DUCKS. 115 



Range. — Northern hemisphere ; breeds in the far north, and, in America, 

 winters as far south as the upper Mississippi Valley and Virginia. 



Washington, rare W. V., Nov. to Apl. Long Island, abundant W. V., 

 Nov. 1 to Apl. 15. Sing Sing, tolerably common W. V., Dec. 4 to Apl. 6. 

 Cambridge, rather common in Oct. and Nov. 



A^s^, on the ground near water, under low bushes or tall grasses. Eggs.^ 

 six to twelve, pale bluish tinged with olive, 2-05 x 1-49. 



In The Auk for 1892, pp. 330-337, Mr. George H. Mackay gives a 

 capital account of the habits of this species in our waters. He speaks 

 of them as the swiftest flying as v^ell as the noisiest (in the spring) of 

 all the sea fowl which tarry with us, and gives their curious scolding or 

 talking notes as o-onc-o-oiic-ough, egh-ough-egh. Their flight is gen- 

 erally near the water, and when shot at while flying they sometimes 

 dive from the wing. He also mentions their habit of towering, " usually 

 in the afternoon, collecting in mild weather in large flocks if undis- 

 turbed, and going up in circles so high as to be scarcely discernible, 

 often coming down with a rush and great velocity, a portion of the 

 flock scattering and coming down in a zigzag course similar to the 

 Scoters when whistled down." 



155. Histrionicus histrionicus (Linn.). Harlequin Duck. Ad. $ . 



— Center of the crown black, margined by white and rufous ; front of the sides 

 of the head, a spot on the ear, a stripe back of it, and a collar around the back 

 and sides of the neck white ; rest of the head and throat rich slaty blue ; a 

 band in front of the wing wliite, margined with black ; inner scapulars white ; 

 back and breast bluish slate ; belly fuscous ; sides rufous-chestnut. Ad. 9 . — 

 Front of the head whitish; a white spot on the ears; upper parts brownish 

 fuscous ; throat, breast, and sides lighter ; belly grayish brown, margined with 

 whitish. L., 17-00 ; W., 7-80 ; Tar., 1-50 ; B., 1-05. 



Range. " Northern North America, breeding from Newfoundland, the 



northern Eocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada, northward; south in 

 winter to the Middle States and California" (A. O. U.). 



Long Island, rare W. V. 



Mst, on the ground or in hollow stumps near water. Rggs, six to eight, 

 yellowish buff or greenish yellow, 2-30 x 1-62 (Davie). 



Unlike other members of this subfamily, this species passes the 

 breeding season on rapid dashing streams, but during the winter it 

 occurs as a Sea Duck off our more northern coasts. 



156. Camptolaimus labradorius (Gjnel). Labrador Duck; 

 Pied Duck. Ad. 6 .—Center of crown black ; rest of head, throat, and upper 

 neck white ; a black band around the lower neck connected behind with the 

 black back ; primaries fuscous, rest of wing white ; front and sides of the 

 upper breast white, lower breast and belly black. Ad. 9 .—Brownish gray, 

 the speculum white. Im. 6 .—Like the 9 , but with the throat and ends of 

 the greater wing-coverts white. L., 20-00 ; W., 8-40 ; Tar., 1-50 ; B., 1*58. 



