EASTERN HARLEQUIN DUCK 289 



fused with any other. The male, like the Ruddy 

 Duck, sometimes cocks its tail. The female, at rest 

 on the water, with its brownish back and white 

 spots on the face, may be mistaken for the fe- 

 males of Buffle-head, Old-squaw and Surf Scoter. 

 It is larger than the Buffle-head and has three white face spots instead of one; 

 the whiter head and neck, and paler upperparts of the Old-squaw will separate 

 it; it is almost an exact replica of the female Surf Scoter, which, however, is 

 very much larger. Harlequins sit high and buoyantly on the water and dive 

 like a flash, often from the wing. Their movements on the water or land are 

 quick, skilful and graceful. When seen standing on a rock, as they often are, 

 they appear small-bodied and long-legged. 



IN FLIGHT. The dark coloration of the male, relieved by irregular white 

 lines and its red sides, will identify it. The dark female shows a whitish breast 

 in flight, the three white face-spots are 

 sometimes discernible, and there is no white 

 in the wings. The flight is usually in com- 

 pact flocks close to the water and with rapid 

 wing-beats. The flight is very swift and is 

 usually marked by abrupt turnings. The fe- 

 male Buffle-head shows a white speculum; 

 the chunky female Old-squaw, which also 

 has solidly brown wings, shows a large 

 amount of white on breast, sides and head; 

 the outline of the much larger, heavy-billed 

 darker-breasted female Surf Scoter will pre- 

 vent confusion. 



VOICE. A squeak, like that of a mouse (hence the name sea-mouse). The 

 male has a hoarse, hu or heh-heh and an oy-oy-oy-oy uttered on the wing, and a 

 loud, clear qua qua qua. The usual cry of the female is ek-ek-ek-ek. Both sexes, 

 when paired, utter a sound resembling gi-ak. 



LIFE STORY 



Called "lords and ladies" of the waters, Harlequins, the loveliest of 

 sea ducks, reserve their elegant beauty for the isolated ledges and wave- 

 washed rocks of northern coasts, and the dashing streams of rocky and 

 mountainous regions. The adult male is attractively and fantastically 

 decorated with bizarre spots and patches and, in the opinion of many, 

 the only American wild fowl to excel it in beauty is the Wood Duck. It 

 was named "Harlequin" because its gaudy parti-coloured plumage is 

 reminiscent of the bright dress worn by the fictional character Harle- 

 quin, that likeable buffoon, the lover of Columbine. Though abundant 

 in Iceland, this variety is comparatively rare on this continent but on 

 the Pacific coast, another subspecies, the Western Harlequin, which 

 differs from the Atlantic bird only in minor details of colour, is found 

 in relatively large numbers. 



"Their movements, both on land and water, are quick, skillful, and 

 graceful; they run swiftly on dry land, and their gait reminds one very 



