248 HARLEQUIN DUCK. 



The eggs, five or six in number, are of a plain greenish yellow colour, and measure 

 two inches and one-sixteenth in length, by one inch and nine-sixteenths in breadth. 

 The female covers them with down, as the Eider does, after they are deposited. 



"The male leaves her to perform the arduous, but, no doubt, to her pleasant, task of 

 hatching and rearing the brood, and joining his idle companions, returns to the sea- 

 shore, where he moults in July and August." 



In the adult male the bill is dark lead-colour ; the point, red. Irides, dark red ; forehead 

 and crown, black. From the bill to the eye, and a streak over the eye, white; the 

 latter shading into red. The rest of the head and neck, black; except a patch over 

 the ear coverts and a streak on each side of the neck, which are white, as well as a 

 circle at the bottom of the neck. Back, wing coverts, and rump, dark slate-colour. 

 Tail, dull black ; primaries, dusky black ; secondaries and scapulars, white. Breast, bluish 

 gray, below which is a crescent of white, edged with black on each side. Belly, blackish 

 gray; vent, black; sides, rufous. Legs and feet, bluish gray; the membranes darker. 



The female has the forehead, cheeks, and patch over the ear, impure white; upper 

 parts brown; neck and breast, paler, mottled with reddish brown; belly, nearly white. 



The young males resemble the females during the first year. 



The length of the male is seventeen inches. 



The female measures but fourteen inches. 



