The Long-tailed Duck 



The nest is placed near the water on the ground, and 

 warmly lined with down. The eggs are of a bluish green 

 colour. 



In its plumage this species is somewhat peculiar. It 

 assumes in October a black-and-white plumage, in which 

 the head and neck are white except for a brownish grey 

 patch on the cheeks and an oval patch of dark brown on 

 each side of the neck. The upper parts, breast, wing coverts, 

 and central tail feathers, which latter are much elongated, 

 are black. The scapulars, secondaries, outer tail feathers, 

 and under parts white. Bill black, with pinkish band. 

 Legs lead grey. In April, just previous to the breeding 

 season, the white portions of the upper parts are changed, 

 and become of various shades of brown or tawny. The 

 female lacks the elongated tail feathers, is duller, and has 

 the white portions brownish ; otherwise she resembles the 

 Drake and undergoes similar changes of plumage. Length, 

 inclusive of tail, 25 in. ; wing 8*8 in. 



THE HARLEQUIN DUCK 



Cosmonetta histrionica (Linnaeus) 



Iceland is the nearest breeding resort of this species, 

 which nests also in Eastern Siberia, and only three or four 

 examples have occurred on our coasts. 



It is a very peculiarly marked Duck ; the general colour 

 above is bluish black, with a white spot at the base of the 

 bill and behind each ear ; a white line runs backwards over 



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