THE HARLEQUIN DUCK. 487 



In Audubon's time this species was common, in winter, 

 from Boston northward, and bred as far south as Grand 

 Menan; at present it is doubtful if it breeds farther south 

 than Labrador and Newfoundland, and is not very plentiful 

 there; while in respect to their winter habitat, Mr. E. Smith, 

 of Portland, Maine, says they are " not very common, but 

 of regular occurrence along the coast in winter, frequenting 

 the outermost islands and ledges;" also that they are "very 

 active, expert divers, and generally wary, and as their haunts 

 are not easily accessible, but few of the birds are shot." 



About Mud and Seal Islands, Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia, 

 this species is still found in considerable numbers through- 

 out the winter, there being sometimes as many as a hundred 

 in a flock. They keep about the rocks and ledges, feeding 

 on the small crustaceans called sand fleas, and on small gas- 

 teropods. Shooting the " Rock Ducks," as they call them 

 here, is the rarest sport of the season. An attractive sight, 

 indeed, is a flock of these strikingly marked birds, on a sol- 

 itary outlying rock, on a bleak winter's day. The males 

 are said to be particularly, proud in their manner, stretching 

 up their necks and bowing to each other when a number of 

 them alight together, and emitting a peculiar soft whistling 

 note, not unlike that of the Common Partridge or Ruffed 

 Grouse. They generally arrive in November and leave in 

 April. For these interesting facts, I am indebted to Mr. John 

 Crowell, of Seal Island, who is not only a gentleman of 

 great generosity, but one of the most accurate observers of 

 nature that it has ever been my pleasure to meet. 



It is now pretty evident, that this species breeds in holes 

 in trees, like the Wood Thrush. It is so reported from the 

 interior of Newfoundland. 



