THE HARLEQUIN DUCK. 807 
are not easily seen even at close quarters. It is useless to seek them as game, 
however, for they are expert divers, and as a consequence rank animal feeders. 
More frequently than any other species, they are found entangled in fish 
nets whither they have gone in pursuit of finny prey; and upon the Great 
Lakes, where winter trapping is more common, they are sometimes taken dead 
in six fathoms of water. 
The Old-Squaw leaves us early in March and retires to high northern 
latitudes to breed, being found at the appropriate season from the Barren 
Grounds of Alaska to Grinnell Land. 
No. 325. 
HARLEQUIN DUCK. 
O. U. No. 155. Histrionicus histrionicus ( Linn.) 
Synonyms.—Lorp anp LAapy. Patntep Duck. Rock Duck. Mounvrain 
Duck. 
Description.—Adult male: Prevailing color plumbeous slate tinged with 
purplish, darkening on head and neck, blackening on top of head, lower back, 
rump, and tail, changing on underparts behind breast (including lining of wings) 
to sooty brown, on flanks to lighter brown; plumage strikingly crossed and slashed 
with white; a large wing- shaped patch at base of bill produced above as lateral 
crown-stripe, where yielding to light chestnut posteriorly ; a clear-cut rounded spot 
behind auriculars ; lengthened patch on side of neck; a narrow transverse patch at 
base of neck on side, meeting its fellow, or not, in front and behind; a crescentic 
patch on side of breast before wing, the last two patches sharply defined by 
bordering black; a white spot on wing-coverts; a white bar across the ends of the 
greater coverts and some of the secondaries; scapulars and outer webs of the 
inner secondaries chiefly white; and, lastly, a small white patch on side of rump; 
speculum metallic violet or purplish. Bull blackish or horn-blue to olivaceous; 
irides reddish-brown; feet greenish-dusky with black webs. Perfect plumage is 
not acquired till the third season. Young males differ chiefly in the purity of the 
colors, those of the second season having some grayish brown edging on the wings, 
and flanks finely barred, light brown and fuscous. Adu/t female: General plumage 
plain dark brown, changing thru brownish-gray of upperparts to whitish on belly 
Of the white spots of the male only the two anterior ones are represented, and Of 
these the facial patch is much obscured by brownish. Length of male 16.00- 17.50 
(406.4-444.5) ; wing 7.50 (190.5) ; tail 3.50 (88.9); bill 1.12 (28.5); tarsus 1.30 
(23) Female a little Goallen 
Recognition Marks.—Teal to Crow size; plumbeous coloration with white 
stripes of male unmistakable; female obscure as to color, but following propor- 
tions of male, small bill, high at base, etc. 
Nesting.—WNest: in vicinity of wild mountain streams, under logs, tree-roots, 
drift, rocks, etc., of weeds and grasses, lined with down. Eggs: 6-10, pale buffy 
or creamy white. Av. size, 2.30 1.60 (58.4 x 40.6). Season: April-May; one 
brood. 
