THE HARLEQUIN DUCK, OR HARLEQUIN GARROT. 353 



size, more striking in the contrasts of the plumage, appears 

 in the northern isles only, and there it is by no means com- 

 mon. Length about seventeen, breadth twenty-six inches, 

 weight rather more than one pound. General colour of the 

 upper part very deep green, almost black, glossed with lighter 

 green and purple, and peculiarly marked with white and 

 black. A- curved white line passes from the lower part of 

 the cheek, by the gape and over the eye, nearly to the nape, 

 becoming narrower along the top of the cheek, and termi- 

 nating in a reddish tinge. That white line is bordered all 

 along the inner edge next the eye, by a narrow black line 

 which has no gloss or reflection. There is a circular white 

 spot immediately behind the eye, and a white line from a 

 little behind that, passing down the side of the neck. Another 

 narrow line of white, bordered by one of black, nearly sur- 

 rounds the lower part of the neck as a collar. A third line 

 of white, made up of three distinct arches, with their hollow 

 sides upward, passes from the shoulder to the breast, with a 

 black margin on the under side of the arch next the shoulder, 

 and on the under side of the other two. The portion of the 

 breast between these lines is bluish ash with lighter margins 

 to the feathers. The rest of the under part is brown, with a 

 reddish tinge towards the sides and flanks. The scapular 

 feathers, which are rather produced and well-defined, are 

 white, with black margins. The wing spot on the secondary 

 quills is blue, with purple reflections. The tail and its 

 coverts are dusky black, the bill the same colour, the irides 

 brown, and the feet dusky blue. The female is brownish 

 above, whitish on the under part, with a rusty tinge on the 

 head and neck. 



Both species are said to breed on the marshy shores in the 

 arctic countries, to form their nests in the low shrubs on the 

 margins of the lakes and pools, to lay from eight to twelve 



VOL. II. 2 A 



