BIRDS OF 



The Harlequin is found on the northern shores of Europe, 

 Asia, and North America. In the latter country it breeds spar- 

 ingly in Maine, and in the north-west to Alaska. It has also 

 been found in the northern Rocky Mountains and the Sierra 

 Nevada ; in winter it descends to the Middle States and 

 California. 



With these facts before us we might naturally expect to hear 

 of the species being seen occasionally in Ontario, but of such 

 occurrences the records are very few. 



William Loane, of Toronto, reports having killed a 

 pair near that city in the spring of 1865 and in the fall of 1881 

 he killed another, a female, which is now in the rooms of the 

 Toronto Gun Club. 



One of the residents on the Beach, near Hamilton, told me 

 torn ? years ago of having seen a pair there in spring, the male 

 in full plumage was correctly described by my informant, and 

 spoken of as the most " dapper little drake " he had ever seen. 

 The name Harlequin is suggested. by the peculiar markings on 

 the head of the male which are supposed to resemble those often 

 assumed by the clown in a circus. 



GENUS SOMATERIA LEACH. 

 SUBGENUS SOMATERIA. 



53. SOMATERIA DRESSERI SHARPE. 160. 

 American Eider. 



Bill with long club-shaped frontal processes extending in a line with the 

 culmen upon the sides of the forehead, divided by a broad feathered inter- 

 space. Male in breeding attire, white, creamy-tinted on breast and washed with 

 green on che head ; under-parts from the breast, lower back, rump, tail, 

 quills, and large forked patch on the crown, black. Female with the bill less 

 developed, general plumage an extremely variable shade of reddish-brown or 

 ochrey-brown, speckled, mottled and barred with darker ; male in certain 

 stages resembling female. Length, about 2 feet; wing, 11-12 inches. 



HAB. Atlantic coast of North America, from Maine to Northern Labra- 

 dor, south in winter to the Delaware. 



Nest on the ground, composed of dry grass, moss and sea weed, lined 

 with down and feathers ; eggs, 6 to 10, drab, tinged with green. 



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