230 ANATlDiE. 



the long grass at a stort distance from the water's edge, 

 and the eggs are five or six in number, and of a very 

 pale greenish white. 



During incubation the female is left entirely alone, 

 the males returning in flocks by themselves at that season 

 to the salt water. 



The Harlequin Duck is not only of excellent flesh 

 and beautiful appearance, but is singularly as well as 

 handsomely marked. The head and upper part of the 

 neck are black, tinged with a bluish colour and purple 

 reflections ; the former having on either side two white 

 patches of unequal size, the smaller behind the eye, the 

 larger in front of it, ending in a semicircle of white and 

 red that extends over the eye, and nearly meets a perpen- 

 dicular line of white running down the neck. The 

 lower part of the neck and the breast are curiously and 

 very prettily encircled by two bands of white edged 

 with black, the breast itself being a bluish ash colour. 

 Tlie sides are chestnut, and the back and wings nearly 

 black, the latter marked with white. The bill is slate 

 colour, with a reddish point, and the legs and feet are 

 dark. 



The female is much smaller than her mate, and of 

 more sober plumage, its prevailing colour being a 

 uniform brown. She has in addition to the two white 

 spots on the side of the head a third one on the fore- 



