THE HARLEQUIN DUCKS. 31 



I. THE HARLEQUIN DUCK. COSMONETTA HISTRIONICA. 



Anas histrionica. Linn. S. N. i. p. 204 (1766). 

 Clangula histrionica, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 169 (1852). 

 Cosmonetta histrionica. Dresser, B, Eur. vi. p. 609, pis. 600 

 613 (1877); B.O. U.ListBr. B. p. 132 (1883); Saunders, 

 ed. Yarr. Br. B. iv. p. 452 (1885); id. Man. Br. B. p. 445 

 (1889) ; Lilford, Col. Fig. Brit. B. part xxx. (1895);- Sai- 

 vad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 395 (1895). 

 Histrionicus minutus. Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 613 (1877). 

 Fuligula histrionica, Seebohm, Br. B. iii. p. 594 (1885). 



(Plat* LXI.} 



Adult Male. General colour above slaty-blue, the scapulars 

 white edged with slaty-blue and forming a band down each 

 side of the back ; lower back duller slate-colour ; rump anc 

 upper tail-coverts purplish-black, with a few white-tipped 

 feathers on each side of the latter; tail sooty-black; wing- 

 coverts dark slaty-grey ; two of the median coverts with a 

 round white spot; the central greater coverts tipped with white, 

 before which is a bar of metallic-purple; bastard-\ving, primary- 

 coverts, and primaries blackish-brown, the latter lighter brown 

 on the inner webs ; the secondaries externally purplish-blue, 

 the inner ones for the most part white, bordered with black on 

 the outer webs and grey on the inner ones ; centre of crown 

 blue-black, bordered on each side by a broad band of chestnut, 

 which is separated on its anterior part by a line of white, which 

 is continuous with a white patch occupying the lores and fore- 

 part of cheeks ; eyebrow, sides of head, and neck dark slaty- 

 blue, relieved by a white spot on the ear-coverts and another 

 band of white skirting the sides of the nape ; round the lower 

 throat a white collar, skirted above and below by a purplish- 

 black band and almost meeting on the hind-neck ; fore-neck 

 and chest light slaty blue like the mantle, with which it is con- 

 tinuous ; on either side of the chest a broad vertical band of 

 white, bordered above and below with purplish-black; re- 

 mainder of under surface from the chest downwards dark 

 smoky-brown, inclining to purplish-black on the sides of the 

 vent and under tail-coverts ; sides of the body bright chestnut; 

 axillaries and under wing-coverts smoky-brown, some of the 

 latter with whitish edges ; bill dark leaden-blue, the nail lighter t 



