74 



Distinctions. Male cannot be mistaken for anything else; female rather like the 

 Scaup but can be distinguished by small size and dash of light extending from behind eye 

 towards back of crown instead of a white patch at base of bill. One facial spot instead 

 of two and the evenly light underparts will separate it from the female Harlequin which 

 it also resembles. 



Field Marks. Small size and white head spot for the male, and size, cheek spot, 

 and white wing-patch for the female. 



Nesting. In a stump or hollow tree. 



Distribution. A common migrant from the Atlantic coast westwards; breeds in 

 the west and northwest. 



The name Spirit Duck refers to its diving powers and the remarkable 

 ease with which it disappears when wounded. 



Genus. — Harelda. Old-Squaw. 



154. Old-Squaw, south-southerly, coween. long-tailed duck, old-wipe, 

 cockawee. fr. — le canard a LONGUE queue, le kakawi. Harelda hyemalis. L, 21. 

 (Projection of middle tail feather beyond others, 4-50 — 5.) A medium-sized Duck showing 

 remarkable seasonal change of plumage. Male in spring has a seal-brown breast, neck, 

 head, and back; an almost white facial mask; and ochraceous striping over wings and 

 at base of hindneck. Winter plumage white, with black or dark brown breast, back, 

 and line across shoulders; a spot of same colour over the hindcheeks and upperneck; 

 white stripes over wings. In both seasons male has two greatly elongated middle tail 

 feathers about 8 inches from base to tip and projecting 4 or 5 inches beyond other tail 

 feathers. Plumage of female is intermediate between the above two plumages, showing 

 mostly white without any sharp line between the dark of the breast and the white under- 

 parts as in males. 



Distinctions. Males are characteristic; females may be confused only with those of 

 next species, but are much lighter underneath, and head is mostly white instead of mostly 

 dark. 



Field Marks. Long tail of the male, and head mostly white with dark cheek mark in 

 juvenile and female plumages. 



Nesting. On the ground, near water, hidden under bushes or grass. 



Distribution. Breeds across the continent in the far north. More common on the 

 coast or Great Lakes than on smaller bodies of water. 



This is, with us, essentially a winter Duck. It haunts our harbours 

 and often congregates about the mouths of sewers remaining as long as 

 open water prevails, even throughout winter. It is a great diver and a 

 fish-eater, but is nearly worthless as a table-bird. It descends to great 

 depths after food and is sometimes taken in the fishermen's nets far from 

 land and at surprising depths — in one known case 90 feet. 



Genus — Histrionicus. Harlequins. 



155. Harlequin Duck. rock duck, lord and lady. fr. — le canard hib- 

 trion. Histrionicus histrionicus. L, 17. A small Duck appropriately named after 

 particoloured Harlequin. Male's general coloration is from dull slate-blue to blue-black, 

 but on this ground is arranged a striking series of crescents, stripes, circular spots, triangles, 

 and a collar of pure white, each narrowly bordered with black that makes it stand out in 

 striking contrast; a brilliant splash of rich chestnut adorns the flanks and borders the sides 

 of the crown. Female very dull and subdued, all brownish with white spotting on abdomen 

 aggregated into a not quite continuous middle area. An obscure white blotch in front of 

 and below eye and another more sharply defined over ear. 



Distinctions. Male cannot be confused with that of any other species. Female 

 resembles female Buffle-head in size and colouring, but has a more or less speckled belly 

 instead of an evenly light one, two facial spots instead of one, and no wing-patch. 



