ANATIB^ — FULIGULIN^ : SEA DUCKS. 



707 



95. 



rso, 



brown; feet grayish-blue, with dusky webs and claws. Head and upper neek white, with a longi- 

 tudinal black stripe on the crown and nape. Neck below ringed with black continuous with 

 that of upper parts, then half-collared with white continuous with that of scapulars. Below, 

 from this white, entirely black, excepting white axillars and lining of wings. Above, black, 

 except as said ; the wing-coverts and secondaries white, some of the latter margined with 

 black ; some of the long scapulars pearly-gray ; primaries and their coverts and tail-feathers 

 brownish-black. ? : Bill, eyes, and feet as in ^ : .several secondaries white, forming a 

 speculum, but no white on wing-coverts or scapulars ; axillars and lining of wings mostly 

 white ; inner secondaries edged with black ; general color dappled brownish-gray, paler and 

 more ashy or plumbeous on wing-coverts and inner secondaries. Length 18.OJ-20.00; 

 extent about 30.00 j wing about 9.00; tail 3.50; tarsus 1.50; middle toe and claw 2.50; 

 bill along culmen 1.75, along gape* 



2.25. N. Am., along Atlantic -^—-' 



Coast; breeds or did breed from 

 Labrador northward, in winter 

 ranging or did range S. to the 

 Chesapeake. Extremely rare 

 now, and apparently in fair way 

 to become extinct. The same 

 pair, procured by Daniel Web- 

 ster, has served for Audubon's 

 and Baird's descriptions, and for 

 the present one ; two fine mounted 

 specimens have been lately ac- 

 quired by the National Museum. 

 In England, $200 has been offered 

 for a good pair. 



HISTKIO'NICUS. (Lat. his- 

 trionicus, histrionic, relating to 

 histrio, a stage-player, the bird 

 being tricked out in various colors, 

 as if to play a part.) Harle- 

 quins. Bill very small and short, 



shorter than head or tarsus, rap- ^"J- *^^- - Labrador Duck. (From Ency. Brit.) 



idly tapering to rounded tip which is wholly occupied by the large fused nail ; but higher than 

 wide at base, and with lateral upper corners as in FuliguUncB generally, and convex sweep 

 across its side of feathers, intermediate in extent between the frontal and mental projections, 

 former reaching farthest. A membratous lobe at base of commissure formed by production of 

 skin of cheeks. Nostrils in basal half of bill. Wings and tail short, latter pointed and about 

 half as long as former. Longer scapulars and tertiaries curving outward over the wing as in 

 eiders, with which this genus connects by means of Heniconetta, though in both these genera 

 the bill is simple, as usual in FuligulintB, without the peculiar gibbosity and special outlines 

 of feathers characteristic of eiders. One species, remarkable for its fantastic markings, being 

 patched with different colors; a metallic speculum, here only among our FuUgulince, excepting 

 S. stelhri. 



H. minu'tus. (Lat. mmutus, very small : not well chosen.) Harlequin Duck. Adult ^ : 

 BUI olivaceous ; iris reddish-brown ; feet grayish-blue, with dusky webs and pale claws. 

 Aside from the definite markings to be given, general color deep leaden-blue with a purplish 

 tinge, blackening on top of head, on lower back, rump, and tail above and below, darker on 

 head and neck than on breast and back, changing from breast backward, including lining of 



