U BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xiv. 



for any other member of the A natidcB, the Summer Duck^ 

 which he most closely resembles in appearance — being an 

 inland species of quite different habits. But when for any 

 reason the colouring is obscured, the comparative shortness 

 of the bill, which even at a distance is very noticeable, should 

 always tend to arouse one's suspicions. There are, however, 

 several other characteristics that help to establish its identity 

 — the curious formation in which it swims, to which I have 

 already referred ; its general cobby appearance ; its un- 

 usually active movements ; and, above all, its extreme 

 buoyancy. So marked, indeed, is this ast peculiarity, that 

 it would at once attract the attention of even the most 

 casual observer. When diving, too, it seems to plunge more 

 violently than other ducks, as though in need of extra force 

 to counteract its buoyancy. 



Extremely shy and vigilant, it takes alarm at the slightest 

 sign of danger, and appears to rely on its strength of wing 

 rather than on its power of diving in order to escape from 

 its enemies. The only call-note that I have heard is a low 

 piping whistle, more closely resembling the note of the Sand- 

 piper than any other sound with which I am acquainted. It 

 is uttered constantly when swimming on the surface, and 

 frequently when it rises from the water. 



The diet of the Harlequin consists of shell-fish and aquatic 

 insects. It takes its food by day, the spot selected for this 

 purpose being usually the end of some rocky headland in a 

 situation not too exposed to the elements. It feeds right 

 under the shore against the rocks, a habit from which it 

 never seems to depart. Other species, though they may 

 be partial to shallow waters, may often be seen diving in 

 the more open parts of the bay, where the water is not too 

 deep ; but only on very rare occasions have I observed the 

 Harlequin feeding at a greater distance than a dozen feet 

 or so away from the shore. 



The same rigid discipline that seems to govern all its 

 actions is in no way relaxed even when it feeds. Swimming 

 deliberately to the selected ground, it commences its diving 

 operations as though by word of command, all the members 

 of the party diving together and rising again to the surface 

 in perfect unison, a habit common to many species of duck, 

 but much more strongly developed in the Harlequin. 



It is said to be essentially marine in its habits during the 

 winter months, and my own observations certainly bear 

 this out, for though there are several large lakes in close 

 proximity to the coast in this part of the world that literally 



