VOL. XIV.] NOTES ON HARLEQUIN-DUCK. 15 



in the bay and remained for several hours preening their 

 feathers by the water's edge. It was not until December 

 i6th, however, that the Harlequins began to visit us 

 regularly ; but from that date onwards they were fairly 

 constant visitors, generally appearing in flocks of from 

 three to eleven individuals, the largest party I have ever 

 seen together numbering six males and five females. The 

 males nearly always outnumbered the females, three to two 

 being the average ratio during the period covered by my 

 observations. 



Of the many peculiarities that distinguish the Harlequin 

 from other members of its family, its obvious distaste for 

 the companionship of other species could not fail to attract 

 the notice of the observer. The majority of ducks, though 

 they keep together when travelling, invariably break up 

 their ranks as soon as they alight on the water, individuals 

 of many different species mingling indiscriminately as they 

 swim or drift lazily on the surface. Not so the Harlequins ; 

 they keep to themselves, and, as though afraid of losing 

 touch with one another, adopt a definite formation as they 

 swim through the water. 



Let us suppose the party to number four males and two 

 females. The males will lead the way, each individual 

 swimming close behind and slightly to one side of his leader, 

 with the females in the rear in similar order, the whole party 

 assuming a step-like or, in military parlance, echelon forma- 

 tion. The next moment, by a sudden turning movement, 

 the group will form into line and swim along side by side, 

 and so bunched together that the flank of each individual 

 touches that of his neighbour. The females always seem 

 to keep together. When both sexes are represented in the 

 party, one rarely sees a female swimming between two 

 males, " mixed bathing " evidently being taboo amongst the 

 Harlequins. 



This, of course, merely refers to my observations during 

 the winter ; it would naturally be otherwise in the breeding- 

 season. Nor must it be assumed that the actions described 

 in the foregoing lines are entirely constant. The habits of 

 all birds are subject to a certain amount of variation, and 

 there is no reason to suppose that those of the Harlequin 

 are any exception. I think, however, that most people 

 familiar with this duck will agree that the behaviour I have 

 attempted to portray is very characteristic of the species. 



When seen at a short distance, with the sun playing on 

 his gorgeous livery, the male Harlequin can hardl}' be mistaken 



