OLD SQUAW; LONG-TAILED DUCK 



154. Harelda hyemalis. $ 21; $ 16 in. 



This species is one of the very few ducks that chang( 

 their plumages in summer and winter. The female is 

 marked similarly to the male but is very much dullei 

 colored, and lacks the long tail feathers with whicl 

 the male is adorned. They are sea ducks and, whil( 

 they are usually found to some extent on some of tin 

 larger lakes or ponds, during migrations, they are verj 

 abundant on the Atlantic coast. They are excellenl 

 swimmers and dive to great depths in search of food, 

 It is said (Nelson) that in their summer home, during 

 the mating season, they frequently dive under the watei 

 from the air, a habit that none of the other ducks, ex 

 cept rarely the Pintail, indulge in. 



Notes. A confused, but rather musical gabbling. 



Nest. On the ground near water; thickly lined with 

 downy feathers; eggs laid in June. 



Range. Breeds from Labrador and Alaska north- 

 ward; winters south to Long Island Sound and the 

 upper Mississippi Valley. 



