HARLEQUIN DUCK. 



ALLAN BROOKS. 



Of all the diving ducks the harlequin is 

 the handsomest, rivaling the wood duck in 

 the variety of its markings. In distribution 

 the harlequin is circumpolar, and except in 

 the Western mountains does not occur far 

 South of the Northern border of the 

 United States. 



In its habits the harlequin duck presents 

 a curious anomaly, being an almost ex- 

 clusively maritime duck until the breeding 

 season, when it penetrates far inland, as- 



the water is churned into milk-white foam. 

 Here they nest in a hollow tree not far 

 from the water, but farther North, beyond 

 the tree limit, under a large rock or pile 

 of driftwood. 



No sooner are the young full fledged than 

 they leave for. the coast and for the rest of 

 the year are found in flocks along the rocky 

 shores and tidal fjords. A few stay 

 throughout the summer on the coast but it 

 is doubtful if these breed. 



\ 



HARLEQUIN DUCK. HISTRIONICUS H1STRIONICUS* 



cending high up the foaming mountain 

 torrents to breed. Most of the streams in 

 the Rockies and Cascades have a pair or 

 2 of these ducks breeding along their upper 

 stretches. In the lower portions of these 

 streams where other ducks are numerous 

 one seldom or never sees a harlequin. 



About the middle of May harlequins ap- 

 pear in pairs in the glacial torrents, quite at 

 home and diving for their food, even where 



The male in full plumage is easily recog- 

 nized, but females and young males are 

 soberly covered. Harlequins can be easily 

 told from most ducks by the small and nar- 

 row bill ; from the female bufflehead, which 

 they resemble, by their larger size, absence 

 of a white wing bar and more dusky under- 

 pays. The iris of the harlequin duck is 

 dark hazel in both sexes. The bill in the 

 male is plumbeous ; the feet brownish olive. 



A family in Arkansas has 3 pairs of 

 twins. Their names by sets are Max and 

 Climax, Kate and Duplicate, Peter and R^« 

 peater. — Albion, Iowa, Union, 



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