HARLEQUIN DUCK. 85 



of the head, and another white streak running down the sides 

 of the neck near the back part, originating between the white 

 spot and the junction of the two other lines on the nape. 

 Chin and throat, black, with a purple violet gloss: between 

 the latter and the breast is a white band, edged narrowly 

 below with black. The breast is crossed at the middle by a 

 crescent-shaped band of white, bordered above and below with 

 black; the upper part between the two bands is bluish grey, 

 the lower part below the second one dusky greyish black, 

 darker, becoming deep reddish brown, towards the under tail 

 coverts; the sides are rufous chesnut, and near the tail are a 

 few large strong feathers with white tips, which make a small 

 but distinct spot. The back on the upper part is purple 

 grey, on the middle brownish black, with a bloom of deep 

 blue or purple grey, on the lower part dusky black. 



The wings have the first quill feather the longest; greater 

 wing coverts, bluish black, tipped with white; of the lesser 

 wing coverts some are white, with a narrow greyish border to 

 the feathers; primaries, dull brownish black; secondaries, also 

 black, the outer webs forming the speculum are brownish 

 black, glossed with deep blue; tertiaries, white on the outer 

 webs, bordered with blackish brown. Tail, dusky black; under 

 tail coverts, bluish black; legs and toes, dull bluish dusky 

 black; webs, dusky. 



The moult takes place, Audubon says, in July and August. 



In the female the general plumage is sooty brown. Length, 

 one foot two or three inches; before and behind the eye are 

 patches of white; forehead, whitish; neck in front mottled 

 with two shades of brown. Chin and throat, greyish white. 

 Breast above, mottled with two shades of brown, below 

 whitish, the sides also of two shades of yellowish brown and 

 brownish grey, the flanks brown. Back, reddish brown, the 

 margins of the feathers paler. 



The young male in the first year resembles the female. The 

 white collar is not gained till after the second moult. 



According to Audubon, the young male in its first winter 

 has the white spot over the eye mottled with grey, the line 

 extending over the eye obscure, and the edging of the occiput 

 faint reddish brown; bill, dusky. Head and neck, dull leaden 

 blue, the crown darker; the two white marks exist on the 

 neck, but are merely edged with darker blue; there are some 

 indications of the white collar, and the band before the wing 

 is marked, but much smaller than in the adult bird. In the 



