HARLEQUIN DUCK 



155. Histrionicus histrionicus. 17 in. 



Male very oddly and handsomely marked, as shown: 

 female blackish-brown, lighter below and with a whitish 

 spot before and one behind each eye. During the win- 

 ter, they are seen in flocks off the coast, from Maine 

 and sometimes from Long Island Sound northward. In 

 summer, they are usually found only in pairs along 

 rivers or creeks, and in the Rocky Mountains they fre- 

 quent the turbulent streams that are the homes of the 

 Water Ouzel. When swimming, Harlequins sit high in 

 the water, but they are able to get under the surface 

 with the greatest of speed. 



Notes. A rapidly uttered, clattering whistle. 



Nest. On the ground, in crevices under rocks, the 

 hollow being well lined with down; also said to nest 

 in hollow trees; their 5 to 8 eggs are greenish-buff and 

 measure 2.30x1.60; June. 



Range. Breeds from New Brunswick north and north- 

 west to Alaska and the Arctic Ocean, and south in the 

 Rockies to Colorado; winters south to the Middle States 

 and Calif. 



