186 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



in bagging the bird, it is locally considered a good game species. Its 

 flesh is so dark and rank that shooters sometimes do not trouble them- 

 selves to pick up the dead birds. Its down is said to be of excellent 

 quality, but little inferior to that of the eider. 



Even if the Old-squaw were more numerous in California it would 

 not be considered a desirable game bird because of its almost total 

 unfitness for table use. This is especially true in this state, where 

 many more desirable species yet remain. As it is, the status of this 

 duck within the state has probably remained unaffected, for, as far 

 as we know, it has never occurred in large enough numbers to attract 

 the particular attention of the hunter. 



Harlequin Duck 



Histrionicus histrionicus (Linnaeus) 



Other names — Sistrionicus torquatus; Sistrionicus minutus; Cosmonetta 

 histrionica. 



Description — Adult male: Head and neck, dark slate blue, relieved by 

 various conspicuous markings; stripe from base of bill over middle of crown 

 to back of head, black, forming a low ridge on top of head; stripe on each 

 side from above eye to back of head, reddish brown, the two almost meeting to 

 form a V-shaped border about hinder portion of central black stripe; large 

 triangular patch at side of bill in front of eye, straight-bordered behind, and 

 narrow stripe from upper corner of triangular patch to above eye, both white; 

 rounded spot below and behind eye, and oblique stripe on side of neck, white; 

 all white markings black-bordered; throat sooty black; iris "hazel"; bill 

 "bluish-black," tip "bluish horn-color" (Nelson, 1887, p. 74); collar arouud 

 lower neck, divided on breast and hind neck, white, bordered above by broad 

 band of black with steel blue sheen and below by narrow band of dull black; 

 rump black with steel blue sheen; tail rather long, conspicuously pointed and 

 blackish slate in color; outer surface of closed wing deep slate; flight feathers 

 blackish brown; two small roundish white spots on wing in front of speculum, 

 one on greater and one on middle coverts, the latter often concealed; speculum 

 dark metallic blue with violet reflections, bordered above by feathers haying 

 their expanded outer webs white, outwardly edged with black; axillars and 

 under surface of wing dusky brown; feathers of scapular area centrally white, 

 together forming a white stripe on either side of back; conspicuous transverse 

 white bar on each side just in front of bend of wing, bordered in front and 

 behind with paralleling black bands; sides behind bend of wing, and flanks, 

 rich reddish brown; whole lower surface slaty brown, becoming dusky on 

 belly, and clearer slaty blue on breast; under tail coverts black with steely 

 reflections and with a small roundish white spot on each side near base of tail; 

 legs and feet "dark olivaceous brown," webs "black" (Nelson, loc. cit.). 

 Eclipse plumage: Conspicuous head markings absent or replaced by duller 

 colors. Similar to adult female; but general color of head darker; cheeks and 

 crown approaching slaty black; whole back, rump and scapulars, dark brownish 

 slate; wing, however, as in summer plumage, but ragged from wear and molt; 

 new flight feathers almost black; whole lower surface slaty brown; white 

 transverse bar across side of chest in front of wing and chestnut-colored area 



