THE OLD SQUAW 363 



necessary as a convincing argument for stop- 

 ping him. Where much hunted they learn cau- 

 tion quickly and offer only the longest of shots. 

 At any time a wounded bird means a heap of 

 trouble in the gathering thereof. They have 

 all the talents of the most skillful seafowl at 

 submarine navigation. 



The seasonal changes of plumage in the male 

 bird are quite radical. In the breeding dress 

 the head and neck are a brownish black with a 

 patch of gray about the eyes. Neck and breast 

 a very dark brown, nearly black; the under 

 parts white or silver gray, well defined and 

 sharply contrasted against this dark ground. 

 Upper parts everywhere, as are also the long 

 feathers of the tail, nearly black ; the scapulars 

 varied with tawny yellow and reddish brown on 

 the edges of the feathers. The short tail 

 feathers silvery gray, darkening toward the 

 central feathers. Bill black with an area of 

 orange at the tip. Iris of the male carmine, 

 his feet dull bluish with dusky webs and black 

 claws. Iris of the female yellow, feet dusky 

 greenish with blackish webs. 



The fall and winter plumage is widely differ- 

 ent from the spring suit ; on the head, neck and 



