^°\'910^^^] TowNSEND AND Bent, Birds of Labrador. H 



24. Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck; "Canard des 

 roches" (Fr.). — We were told by Monsieur Beetz that we might find some 

 of these birds breeding at Quatachoo, and on May 29 we saw a flock of five 

 of this species at that place and three more, full adults, at Wateheeshoo, 

 but we found no evidence of breeding. 



25. Somateria dresseri. Eider; "Moynak" (Fr.); "Mesliip" (Ind.).^ 

 This was the most abundant and characteristic breeding duck along the 

 coast, particularly at and to the eastward of Esquimaux Point. To the 

 westward of this Point we saw many migrants on our arrival in May, but 

 on our return in the latter part of June there were but few. Thus at 

 Mingan on June 19 we saw 3 adult males and 30 in the brown plumage, and 

 on June 22 at Seven Islands we saw four in the brown plumage and one 

 partially moulted male. Nearly all the birds east of this point were in full 

 adult plumage and generally in pairs, although we saw two or three flocks 

 of 30 or 40 each made up of brown birds with one or two adult males. 

 In walking around Esquimaux Island on June 3 we saw at least 500 of 

 these birds on the rocks or in the water near by. Courting was continually 

 in progress and the love note of the male, a loud and rather pleasing ah-ou, 

 was frequently heard. 



We found their nests abundant, especially on the smaller islands, such 

 as the Isles des Corneilles. The nests were either in plain view or liidden 

 amid the dead grass, or in crevices between the rocks or under the spruce 

 bushes. While often close to the waters they were sometimes several 

 yards back in the middle of the islands. At the islands at Wateheeshoo 

 on May 29, we found about 25 nests in a few hours. The usual number of 

 eggs was five or six, in one case seven; all the eggs collected were fresh. 



It is evident that Indians and fishermen along the coast consume great 

 quantities of the eggs of this valuable bird, and also shoot many of the 

 birds during the breeding season. It is only a question of time before 

 they are extirpated, as is practically the case now at Seven Islands and 

 Mingan. 



26. Oidemia americana. Scoter; "Macreuse" (Fr.). — We saw 

 Scoters in large numbers all along the coast; most of them were flying 

 to the eastward, evidently on the spring migration. They became less 

 common during the latter part of our stay, but even on June 22, near 

 Seven Islands, we saw about 30 Wliite-winged and 30 Surf Scoters. 

 Although it is said that many spend the summer here, these are probably 

 non-breeding birds for we found no evidence of their breeding. The 

 Scoters were in flocks large and small and did not as a rule appear to be 

 paired. At Esquimaux Point Scoters were seen daily flying east through 

 the Sound sometimes in large numbers. 



The Surf Scoter was by far the most common of the three species, the 

 Wliite-winged next, while the American Scoter was comparatively rare. 



27. Oidemia deglandi. White-winged Scoter. — See 0. americana. 



28. Oidemia perspicillata. Surf Scoter. — Tliis, as already stated, 

 we found the most common of the Scoters. On May 25, near Charles Island, 



