, 
HARLEQUIN DUCK. 625 
of its flesh, it is seldom sought after by our sportsmen, or gunners, and 
is very little esteemed. j : 
The Velvet Duck measures twenty-three inches in length, and two 
feet nine inches in extent, and weighs about three pounds ; the bill is 
‘broad,a little elevated at the base, where it is black, the rest red, ex- 
cept the lower mandible, which is of a pale yellowish white ; both are 
edged with black, and deeply toothed ; irides, pale cream; under the 
eye is a small spot of white; general color of the plumage brownish 
black, the secondaries: excepted, which are white, forming a broad 
band across the wing; there are a few reflections of purple on the 
upper plumage; the legs aré red on the outside, and deep yellow, 
sprinkled with blackish, on the inner sides; tail, short and pointed. 
The female is very little less than the male ; but differs considerably 
in its markings. The bill is dusky ; forehead and cheeks, white ; under 
the eye, dull brownish; behind that, a large oval spot of white; whole 
upper parts and neck, dark brownish drab; tips of the plumage, 
lighter; secondaries, white; wing-quills, deep brown; belly, brownish 
white; tail, hoary brown; the throat is white, marked with dusky 
specks; legs and feet, yellow. 
Latham informs us, that this species is sometimes seen on the coast 
of England, but is not common there ;. that it inhabits Denmark and 
Russia, and in some parts of Siberia, is very common. It is also 
found at Kamtschatka, where it is said to breed, going far inland to lay; 
the eggs are eight or ten, and white; the males depart, and leave the 
females to remain with the young until they are able to fly. In the 
River Ochotska they are so numerous that a party of natives, consisting 
of fifty or more, go off in boats, and drive these Ducks up the river 
before them, and, when the tide ebbs, fall on them at once, and knock 
them on the head with clubs, killmg such numbers that each man has 
twenty or thirty for his share.* : 
HARLEQUIN DUCK.—ANAS HISTRIONICA. —Fie. 302. 
Le canard & collier de Terre Neuve, Briss. vi. p. 362, 14. — Buff. ix. p. 250. 
Pl. enl. 198. — Arct. Zool. No. 490. — Lath. Syn. iii. p. 484. 
CLANGULA HISTRIONICA. — Leacu.t 
: Clangula histrionica, Bonap. Synop. p. 394.— North. Zool. ii. p. 459.— Carnard & 
collier, ou histrion, Temm, Man. ii.-p. 878. 
Tus species is very rare on the coasts of the Middle and Southern 
States, though not unfrequently found off those of New England, where 
it is known by the dignified title of the Lord, probably from the ele- 
gant crescents and circles of white which ornament its neck and- 
* History of Kamtschatka, p. 160. ; : 
+ Dr. Richardson observes of this Deck —“C. histrionica haunts eddies under 
cascades and rapid streams. It takes wing at once, when disturbed, and is very 
vigilant. We never saw it associating with any other Duck, and it is a rare bird.” 
—Ep. 
53 
