383 
HARELDA HYEMALIS (Bairp). 
THE LONGTAILED DUCK: OLD SQUAW. 
Specific Character.— Adult, male—Winter—Forehead, crown, occiput, nape, 
‘chin, throat, lower part of the neck all round, and upper part of the jugulum and 
back, white; lores, cheeks, and orbital regions light mouse gray, the eyelids 
white, a large oblong space covering the sides of the neck, black, becoming gray- 
ish brown in its lower portion. Middle of the back, rump, upper tail coverts, tail, 
wings, lower part of the jugulum, whole breast and upper part of the abdomen 
black ; the pectoral markings are very abruptly defined both anteriorly and 
posteriorly, the latter with a strong convex outline. Scapulars glaucous white 
or very pale pearl gray. Basal half of the bill black, the terminal portion orange 
yellow with the nail bluish gray ; iris bright carmine ; feet light plumbeous, the 
webs dusky and claws black. 
Adult female in winter—Head, neck, and lower parts, chiefly white ; fore- 
head medially and crown dusky; auricular region, chin and throat tinged with 
the same ; jugulum light dingy gray. Upper parts dusky brown, the scapulars 
bordered with grayish fulvous, or light raw umber brown, some of the feathers 
tipped with pale ashy. 
Total length about 23.00 inches; extent 30.00; wing 8.50; culmen 1.10 ; 
tarsus 1.35; middle toe 1.90. Female smaller. 
Habitat.—Northern Hemisphere. In America south to the Potomae and 
Ohio rivers. This bird is known by a number of names such as Coween, Long- 
tailed Duck, Old Wife, Old Squaw, South-south Southerly, the latter name from 
its jabbering note. It is distributed over nearly the whole of North America and 
is very common throughout Ontario remaining upon its southern waters most of 
the winter. It passes north early in the spring to breed, the female making her 
nest near the edge of the water and laying from 6 to 12 eggs. It is a very hand- 
some bird, but is utterly useless for the table. Its food being chiefly fish and 
water insects its flesh is black, rank, and fishy. The Coweens assemble on the 
ba Niagara river in large numbers, and on a still morning may be heard for a long 
_ distance uttering their peculiar gabbling ery. 
30 (Gy. 
