Bird-Life in Labrador. 71 



other name, used mere in Newfoundland than in Labrador, 

 though it is occasionally heard here, is that of " houns/ 7 or 

 " hounds/ 7 more likely the former is the correct pronuncia- 

 tion. The female or the " old wife/ 7 as it is sometimes called, 

 resembles greatly the female of the dipper duck or buffle-head. 

 The marked difference between the two is the absence of white 

 on the wing of the long-tailed duck ; whether the very young 

 birds of the two species are distinguishable or not I could not 

 ascertain. The people on the coast cannot tell you which is 

 the " sleepy diver," as they call it, and which the long-tailed 

 duck, or even distinguish the young ; they call them all indis- 

 criminately " sleepy divers. 77 It will never do for a stranger 

 to dispute them upon any subject upon which, from long expe- 

 rience, they consider themselves an authority ; nor can they 

 conceive the possibility of a stranger knowing more than they 

 about any object concerning which they are at all familiar. 



HARLEQUIN DUCK 



Histrionicus minutus. (L.) COTJES. 



THIS handsome little fellow frequents the mouths of the 

 rivers and, perhaps, follows the stream a little distance into 

 the interior ; also breeds not uncommonly thus all along the 

 coast. This, with the last-named bird, is regarded as about 

 equally common as, though rather rarer perhaps than, albeola. 

 It is confined to the rivers and the river mouths along the 

 coast. He is a handsome little bird and, with his more mod- 

 estly-attired mate, goes by the name of " lord and lady. 77 

 The name " houns 77 is also applied to it, probably by some 

 unsophisticated Labradorian who does not know the difference, 

 for I am assured, quite positively and on good authority, that 

 this Newfoundland name, for it appears on good authority 

 also to be strictly such, is applied only to the long-tailed duck. 

 I saw several specimens captured near Esquimaux River, but 

 could learn little of its habits. 



