232 Norton, The Harlequin Duck in Maine. \ tut 



the wind, or a few would pay a visit of inspection to the Eiders 

 and Scoters, quickly returning to their own kind. Then all would 

 return to feed or frolic in the breaker. 



The following day the wind and sea were sufficiently moderated 

 to make landing on the little island possible, an opportunity which 

 we improved early in the day. This island, I was told, formerly 

 afforded the birds a favorite resort, and many crevices were 

 pointed out to me as their old-time haunts. On this occasion 

 we found but a single Mock of nine birds, resting idly on the 

 water, off the mouth of one of these crevices. We waited for 

 some time, but they drifted farther out. 



The next morning, February 9, was very calm and we went to 

 a large off-lying ledge a mile away and set decoys for ducks. 

 Shortly after sunrise a pair of ' Ladies ' came and lit in a shallow 

 cave, where they paused but a moment, and then flew away. 

 About half an hour later a grand flock of thirty or forty came 

 in sight heading for us, but when about a hundred yards away, 

 for some cause they sheered off to the west, disappearing in the 

 distance, not stopping at either of the islands. As they passed 

 us away from the sun, the light was perfect, making the adult 

 males, which constituted a good portion of the flock, very con- 

 spicuous. The flock was compact, the birds moving swiftly, 

 about ten feet above the water, with very quick wing strokes, 

 their dashing manner and lightness of flight suggesting Pas- 

 serine birds. 



Shortly before noon of the same day we went to the little 

 island and again found the nine birds at the same place where 

 they had been observed the day before, this time very close to 

 the gutter. They were warned of our presence by a Black- 

 backed Gull, not, however, before we were within a very long 

 shot of them and five fell at a single discharge. All appeared 

 to be young males, in changing plumage. An example now at 

 hand has the worn and faded feathers of the old dress, and the 

 fresh, bright ones of the new showing in various parts of it, but 

 most conspicuously in the upper tail-coverts and the tail, where 

 the contrast is great. The two middle tail-feathers and upper 

 tail-coverts, except three feathers scattered among the new, are 

 of the new plumage, unworn and of a glossy blackish, while the 



