WILD DUCKS. 299 



nized by its hue and bill, the latter being broad and flat, 

 and having an overhanging nail. An adult male has a 

 length of fifteen inches. The female, which is not so 

 large, is of a brownish hue above; the top of the head is 

 brown, and the under tail-coverts are white. 



The harlequin duck {Histrioniciis torquahis), is only 

 sjiaringly found in the Eocky Mountain region, but it is 

 common in Canada, especially about Labrador and New- 

 foundland, wbere the male is known as 'Herd," and the 

 female as "lady." This beautiful creature has a small 

 bill that tapers rapidly to the tip. The male is 

 plumbeous in hue; the posterior part of the body is chest- 

 nut; the sides of the head are of the same color; a black 

 stripe on the crown and tail is quite prominent; and the 

 jugular collar is white. The female has a white patch in 

 front of and behind the eye, and she is paler beneath than 

 the male. The length of the latter is about sixteen 

 inches, and the weight from fourteen to twenty ounces. 

 This species is very expert in diving, and teams have the 

 habit of dropping into the water, as if all were dead, 

 after they have been fired at, only to take wing again in 

 a few moments. They certainly deserve their local name, 

 for no harlequins that ever appeared in pantomime are 

 more dexterous at appearing and disappearing suddenly 

 than they are. 



The long-tailed duck [Harelda glacialis), which is also 

 known as the hound, old wife, and south-southerly, is 

 very common on the coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific 

 Oceans. The tail, from which it derives its popular 

 name, is composed of fourteen narrow, pointed feathers, 

 those in the middle being often equal to the wing in 

 length, especially in the male. The latter is grayish 

 about the sides of the head in summer, but in winter the 

 whole head, neck, and anterior parts of the body are 

 white, except a dark patch on the neck. The body-color 

 varies according to the season, but the species may be 



