WILD FOWL. 105 



" The Harlequin Duck is a native of both continents. It is 

 an excellent diver, has a whistling note, flies swiftly, and to a 

 great elevation. It is much admired in the cabinet, and its 

 flesh is said to be excellent on the table." 



" Adult male in summer : 



" Bill yellowish-olive, the tips of the unguis lighter ; iris red- 

 dish-brown ; feet light blue, the webs grayish-black, the claws 

 whitish ; a broad band from the base of the bill to the occiput 

 bluish-black, margined behind with light yellowish-red, before 

 with white, that color forming a broad triangular spot on the 

 cheek, anterior to the eye ; sides of the head, and neck all 

 round, purplish-blue ; a spot of white behind the ears ; a curved 

 line on each side of the neck ; a complete ring of white below 

 the middle of (he neck, with a curved band of the same color 

 anterior to the wing ; all these white markings broadly edged 

 with deep black; the fore part of the back light purplish-blue, 

 the hind part deepening in tint, so as to become almost black, 

 of which color the rump is all round ; scapulars chiefly white ; 

 wing coverts purplish blue, as are the alula and primary 

 coverts ; the quills dark grayish-brown ; the tail grayish-black ; 

 a small white spot near the flexure of the wing ; a band of white 

 across the wing, formed by the tips of the secondaries, of which 

 the inner have their outer webs principally of the same color ; 

 fore part of the breast purplish-blue, hind part and abdomen 

 grayish-brown ; sides light red ; a latent spot of white near the 

 root of the tail. 



" Length to end of tail, 17| inches ; to end of wings, lig ; to 

 end of claws, 16^ ; extent of wings 26| ; wing from flexure, 7? ; 

 tail 3.^. Weight li lbs. 



" The male does not attain his full plumage until after the 

 third moult." — Audubon's Birds of America. 



