0l i8g6 ni l Norton, The Harlequin Duck in Maine. 2 3 3 



rest of the tail and the rump are of the old plumage, worn and 

 faded to a dull, grayish brown shade. 



Compared with the other ducks of this coast, with which their 

 habits often throw them in life, the combination of small size, 

 dark color and buoyancy, in air or water, is distinctive. Soma- 

 teria and Oidemia are heavy, at rest or in flight, though none but 

 small examples of O. americana approach Histrionicus in size. 

 The color is at once sufficient to distinguish it from Clangula 

 hyemalis, when they are together on this coast. 



Mr. Rackliff pointed out numerous gutters, where he said that 

 when a youth he had seen the ' Sea-mice ' crowding in, when sad 

 havoc was often made among them by the boy gunners. The 

 older gunners seldom made effort to take them, as they were of 

 small value. They were very easily plucked of their feathers, a 

 fact which made them an object of playful contests at the pluck- 

 ing of the day's gunning. 



In speaking of these birds he commonly called them Sea-mice ; 

 and in answer to my question, said that they made a squeaking 

 note like mice, and thus received that name among the gunners 

 of that vicinity. He also said that they were very playful in their 

 actions, frequently flying in to a chosen resort to drop into the 

 water and, without a decided stop, resume their flight to another 

 quarter ; or they would fly in and dive from the air, reappearing 

 on the wing and away again. (For another note on their playful- 

 ness, see Dutcher, Auk, Vol. Ill, p. 434.) 



The birds are known to fly to a great height. (See Pennant, 

 Latham, and Wilson.) This is a habit probably not observed on 

 this coast in winter, and might be doubted by those observing 

 only the winter birds ; fortunately, however, Audubon has shown 

 that this is a habit in flying over the land, under which conditions 

 they were probably observed by Pennant or his observers. 



That the species is gregarious under favorable conditions is 

 ably attested. (Andubon, Elliot, and Stejneger.) I believe that 

 I am correctly informed concerning its voice, at least during its 

 abode on this coast. 



As to its breeding on the coasts of Maine and Nova Scotia in 

 early days I have no more evidence than other ornithologists, 

 but as regards the subject of breeding and family cares, I regard 



