808 THE HARLEQUIN DUCK. 
General Range.—The northern hemisphere, but chiefly North America, 
especially coastwise; breeding in northern latitudes and in the mountains of the 
West; south in winter to northern New England, the Middle States, and the 
coast of California. 
Range in Washington.—Probably not uncommon, but little observed mi- 
grant and resident, breeding in the Cascade Mountains (and probably the Olym- 
pics) and summering in considerable numbers among the San Juan Islands, less 
common among the Olympiades. 
Authorities.—//. torquatus, Bonap., Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, 
p. 799. T. C&S. Rh. Kk. B. E. 
Specimens.—(U. of WW.) Prov. BN. 
THE scientists derive great satisfaction from their attempts to tell us why 
certain things are so and so, and we nod gravely from time to time in pre- 
tended comprehension; but there are matters which are better left to folk-lore. 
We can understand in a measure how the partridge came to look like dead 
leaves, and the snipe like dead grass, but who may say in terms of cold logic 
how the Harlequin acquired his fantastic livery? No; it must have been in 
this wise. The first Harlequin, before he was a Harlequin, that is, was of a 
nearly uniform slate color, with some relief of dull cinnamon. But, clad in 
this somber garb, folks mistook him for a coot, which were a misfortune 
indeed for such a dainty creature. Driven to desperation he sought out 
Mother Nature and begged to be retouched. This the good dame, being in a 
whimsical mood, consented to do. She seized a brush from the nearest pot of 
paint, which happened to be white, and gave her discontented subject, between 
fits of laughter, sundry daubs and slashes with it, ten to a side, sending him 
forth at the last a very—Harlequin. 
Seriously, it is difficult to detect the raison d'etre of this eccentric dress; 
yet it is barely possible that it does afford its owner an exact protection among 
the turbulent, foam-flecked waters of its summer home. Certain it is that its 
bizarre habit has made the bird as frequent a subject for the taxidermist as its 
rarity has allowed. 
Rarity is the all but universal testimony in reference to the Harlequin. 
Yet while cruising about the islands of the Lower Sound in the summer of 
1905 with Mr. J. M. Edson, of Bellingham, I came upon this Duck in astonish- 
ing numbers. They are, indeed, at this season characteristic denizens of the 
waters surrounding the smaller and more isolated islets. 
Their feeding seems largely confined to the kelp beds and is both by 
tipping and diving. It is fair to surmise that they subsist chiefly upon the 
molluses and small crustaceans which attach themselves to the floating leaves 
of this plant. When undisturbed the birds sit jauntily upon the water with 
partly ruffled crests and with active tails, noticeable for length; but when the 
word of caution has been passed around they lie motionless, with the feathers 
of the head close down and the tail depressed. They are somewhat given to 
