Bird-Life in Labrador. 71 



other name, used more in Newfoundland than in Labrador, 

 thoug:h it is occasionally heard here, is that of " houns," or 

 " hounds," more likely the former is the correct pronuncia- 

 tion. The female or the '' old wife," as it is sometimes called, 

 resembles greatly the female of the dipper duck or buffle-head. 

 The marked difference between the two is the absence of white 

 on the wing of the long-tailed duck ; whether the very young 

 birds of the two species are distinguishable or not I could not 

 ascertain. The people on the coast cannot tell you which is 

 the " sleepy diver," as they call it, and which the long-tailed 

 duck, or even distinguish the young ; they call them all indis- 

 criminately " slee|)y divers." It will never do for a stranger 

 to dispute them upon any subject upon which, from long expe- 

 rience, they consider themselves an authority ; nor can they 

 conceive the possibility of a stranger knowing more than they 

 about any object concerning which they are at all familiar. 



HARLEaUIN DUCK 



Histrionicus miyndus. — (L.) CouES. 



This handsome little fellow frequents the mouths of the 

 rivers and, perhaps, follows the stream a little distance into 

 the interior ; also breeds not uncommonly thus all along the 

 coast. This, with the last-named bird, is regarded as about 

 equally common as, though rather rarer perhaps than, albeola. 

 It is confined to the rivers and the river mouths along the 

 coast. He is a handsome little bird and, with his more mod- 

 estly-attired ^mate, goes by the name of " lord and lady." 

 The name " houns " is also applied to it, probably by some 

 unsophisticated Labradorian who does not know the difference, 

 for I am assured, quite positively and on good authority, that 

 tiiis Newfoundland name, for it appears on good authority 

 also to be strictly such, is applied only to the long-tailed duck. 

 I saw several specimens ca|)tured near Esquimaux R,iver, but 

 could learn little of its habits. 



