136 ANATID^B 



HARLEQUIN l DUCK. Cosmonetta histrionica (Linnaeus). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, ' Birds of Great Britain,' vol. v, pi. 

 32; Dresser, 'Birds of Europe,' vol. vi, pi. 442; Lilford. 

 1 Coloured Figures,' vol. vii, pi. 51. 



Though abundant and resident in Iceland (Coburn, 

 ' Zoologist,' 1901), this handsome Duck is very rare as a 

 British Bird. Specimens have been procured from Scotland 

 (J. Sowerby, ' British Miscellany,' 1806) ; one from Filey on 

 the Yorkshire coast in the autumn of 1862, which is pre- 

 served in the collection of Mr. Whitaker, of Rainworth ; 

 two from the Northumberland coast on December 2nd, 

 1886, now in the collections of Mr. R. W. Chase and Rev. 

 Julian Tuck (Saunders). 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Head, throat, and neck, 

 bluish-black ; partially encircling the neck are two white 

 collars, the upper margined with a thin band of black ; in 

 front of the eye is a large patch of white, behind the eye a 

 smaller one and running down the back of the neck is a 

 white stripe ; on top of the head there is a black band, 

 margined on either side with white and chestnut which 

 extend from the front to the back of the head ; back and 

 upper tail-coverts, bluish-black ; scapulars, wing-coverts, and 

 secondaries, patched with white and purple ; primaries and 

 tail, brownish ; breast and abdomen, brownish-grey ; flanks, 

 reddish-brown ; on either side of the tail there is a small 

 white spot. 



Adult male, post-nuptial or eclipse. " Eclipse male 

 resembles female, but much darker in general plum- 

 age ; mantle, flanks, and under parts being slaty-black, 

 assumed about the end of July or early in August." 

 (Described by Mr. F. Coburn, from a specimen in his 

 collection.) 



Adult female nuptial. Rather sombre-plumed ; back 

 and neck, brownish ; breast and front of neck, mottled 

 brownish- white ; abdomen, impure white ; there is a large 



1 The appropriate name ' Harlequin J has been given to this species 

 on account of the well-marked patches, stripes, and incomplete rings of 

 white, which stand out in bold relief against the dark ground- shades of 

 the cheeks and neck. 



