i68 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



Mr. Swinhoe never heard of its occurrence in China. It is very common on tlie 

 shores and islands of Bering's Straits. Mr. Nelson found it verj^ common at 

 Ounalaska, in May, 1877, in large flocks in the inner harbours, but much too shy 

 to be approached. Mr. Elliott records it as extremely plentiful on the Fur-seal 

 islands, huddled together close along the beach in flocks of hundreds, and heedless 

 of approach, the females appearing to out-number the males at least two to one. 

 Although offering large rewards to the natives he totally failed to obtain the eggs, 

 the probability being that these were young or barren birds which had not pro- 

 ceeded to their northern nesting quarters. 



The Harlequin Duck haunts the clear ice-cold mountain streams which enter 

 the Yukon, and elevated tarns and lakes ; they will dive and swim entirely under 

 water, or with only the head exposed, and they tumble and roll about through 

 rapids and cascades in the most extraordinary fashion. Their food appears to 

 consist mainly of water insects, chiefly the caddis fly. 



Mr. E. W. Nelson, ("Cruise of the Corwin"), says: — "Around the shore of 

 Norton's Sound this Duck is not common in spring, occurring very rarely as a 

 migrant, and nesting only along the streams flowing into this body of water. 

 When the young are ready to take wing — during August, or from the last of July 

 until September — they become more and more common on the rocky portions of 

 the shore, frequenting the same localities and often joining in flocks of the Scoters." 

 He further states the natives of the interior use these birds as toys, skinned and 

 stuffed with moss they are decorated with beads and bright threads as dolls for 

 the children, their handsome variegated plumage being very attractive to savages. 



Regarding its nesting habits in Newfoundland, Mr. Reeks, (" Zool." 69, pp. 

 ] 156-7), tells us it breeds on the borders of lakes and rivers which run into the 

 sea, frequently many miles in the country. The male is known as a " lord." 

 They will easily dodge the shot of a percussion gun by their expert diving, and 

 also frequently escape at close range by the same device when flying, the whole 

 flock dropping apparentlj- " stone dead " into the water unhurt, and rising again 

 out of range. This Duck, when sitting on parti-coloured rocks, is very difl&ciilt 

 to see. Adult males are knovni as "old lords" and females as "jennies." 



Messrs. H. J. and C. E. Pearson, (" Ibis," 1895, pp. 244-5), say in Iceland 

 the Harlequin Duck is one of the latest to breed; first eggs were taken on Jul}^ 

 ist, and fresh eggs brought to them on the i8th. On July ist, Mr. H. J. Pearson 

 visited some islands in a river, the remains of an ancient lava stream. " The 

 lava had formed a dam across the river, which had afterwards broken through, 

 forming four channels, and down these the waters ran like a mill-race, so that it 

 was difficult to find a place where even Iceland ponies could cross. On these 



