146 GAME BIRDS. WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



cated birds in a duck pond. Apparently they considered me 

 a part of the scenery, and gave me such an intimate view of 

 their artless and graceful evolutions as falls to the lot of few 

 persons in a lifetime. Evidently having fed well outside, 

 they came in to the little rock-bound harbor of this uninhab- 

 ited island to rest in the still waters and to dress their spot- 

 less plumage, and there disported themselves, as have their 

 forebears for centuries, until, at my first movement, they 

 lashed the calm surface into spray in their efforts to escape. 

 Strangely, they did not attempt to dive but all took wing. 



On the shores of New England the Harlequin is seen mostly 

 along the outer surf-washed ledges. It is not esteemed by the 

 epicure, and, aside from its beauty as a specimen of its kind, 

 is of little value, but it is closely pursued. Sometimes a flock, 

 when shot at in air, will plunge under water in such a way as 

 to lead the eager sportsman to believe that he has killed them 

 all; but soon they reappear at a distance as lively as ever. 

 The Harlequin is now so shy and rare on the New England 

 coast that it is almost never seen except by hardy fishermen 

 and gunners who ply their calling off shore in the dead of 

 winter. 



This species feeds largely on mussels, w^hich it obtains by 

 diving, mainly along rocky shores. In New England it is a 

 sea bird, but in the west it breeds in the interior on mountain 

 streams, and nests either on the ground or in holes of trees 

 or cliffs. In the streams it eats many insects. 



Since the Harlequin has become rare on the southern New 

 England coast the following records of its occurrence in Rhode 

 Island are of interest: — 



A bunch of twelve was seen by Mr. C. B. Clark in Decem- 

 ber, 1904, near Cormorant Rock, Newport, R. I. He shot two 

 immature males on December 17, 1905, at the same locality. 

 Mr. C. M. Hughes reports an adult male, two immature females 

 and an adidt female shot at Cormorant Rock, Newport, on 

 February 9, 1911. The adult male is in the collection of Mr. 

 Harry S. Hathaway.^ 



» Hathaway, Harry S.: Auk, 1913, p. 548. 



