THE OLD SQUAW 363 
necessary aS a convincing argument for stop- 
ping him. Where much hunted they learn cau- 
tion quickly and offer only the longest of shots. 
At any time a wounded bird means a heap of 
trouble in the gathering thereof. They have 
all the talents of the most skillful seafowl at 
submarine navigation. 
The seasonal changes of plumage in the male 
bird are quite radical. In the breeding dress 
the head and neck are a brownish black with a 
patch of gray about the eyes. Neck and breast 
a very dark brown, nearly black; the under 
parts white or silver gray, well defined and 
sharply contrasted against this dark ground. 
Upper parts everywhere, as are also the long 
feathers of the tail, nearly black; the scapulars 
varied with tawny yellow and reddish brown on 
the edges of the feathers. The short tail 
feathers silvery gray, darkening toward the 
central feathers. Bill black with an area of 
orange at the tip. Iris of the male carmine, 
his feet dull bluish with dusky webs and black 
claws. Iris of the female yellow, feet dusky 
greenish with blackish webs. 
The fall and winter plumage is widely differ- 
ent from the spring suit; on the head, neck and 
