Vol 



1 -^ III T Norton, The Harlequin Duck in Maine. 2 2Q 



RECENT OBSERVATIONS ON HISTRIONICUS HIS- 

 TRIONIC US IN MAINE. 



BY ARTHUR H. NORTON. 



In the month of February, 1894, the writer spent several days 

 on some of the outermost islands of Penobscot Bay, for the sole 

 purpose of observing and collecting winter birds, and more 

 especially to observe this species in life. I was accompanied by 

 Mr. Fred Rackliff, a man admirably qualified for the work before 

 us, he being an expert surfman, thoroughly acquainted with the 

 region we had chosen, and a skilful ornithological collector. 

 Had I been otherwise attended, my efforts in this connection 

 would have been futile, owing to the sudden and violent changes 

 of weather and sea on this coast in winter, and to the distance 

 and roughness of the islands where we were to perform our labors. 



Our departure was made from the main on Feb. 2 at 2 p. m., 

 with a light westerly wind and smooth sea, we arriving at our first 

 station about sunset. This was an island two miles in length, 

 reduced by the sea to a ledge. At this place we had little hope of 

 finding Harlequins, as I was told that there was but a single ' gut- 

 ter ' here, where the birds had been found with any regularity. 

 Our objective point was an islet lying half a mile away which I 

 was assured was the chief resort of these birds in this vicinity 

 ten years earlier, when they could always be found, in winter 

 around a particular arm of water or gutter, formed at low stages 

 of the tide, on the outermost and roughest part of the islet. 



For several days following we were greatly hampered in our 

 movements by stormy weather, and not until the morning of Feb. 6 

 did we see our first Harlequins. On this morning the wind and 

 sea were quite calm, the tide at about one hour of flood at sunrise 

 making the little niche alluded to a steep-sided, narrow cove into 

 which the sea was but gently breaking. Very shortly after sun- 

 rise we saw a flock of eight Harlequins heading for it, with a swift, 

 straight flight, and without a pause they dropped into the surf near 

 it. We had already left the place, and witnessed this flight from 

 a distance, but we quickly returned, and fastening our boat crept 

 forward over and among the ragged rocks until we saw them 



