ANATID^ — FULIGULIN^ : SEA DUCKS. 
707 
brown; feet grayish-blue, with dusky webs and claws. Head and upper neck white, with a longi- 
tudinal black stripe on the crown and nape. Neck below ringed with black continuous with 
that of upper parts, then half-collared with white continuous with that of scapulars. Below, 
from this white, entirely black, excepting white axillars and lining of wings. Above, black, 
except as said ; the wing-coverts and secondaries white, some of the latter margined with 
black ; some of the long scapulars pearly-gray ; primaries and their coverts and tail-feathers 
brownish-black. 9 • l^i^j eyes, and feet as in $ \ several secondaries white, forming a 
speculum, but no white on wing-coverts or scapulars ; axillars and lining of wings mostly 
white ; inner secondaries edged with black ; general color dappled brownish-gray, paler and 
more ashy or plumbeous on wing-coverts and inner secondaries. Length 18.00-20.00 ; 
extent about 30.00; wing about 9.00; tail 3.50; tarsus 1.50; middle toe and claw 2.50; 
bill along culmen 1.75, along gape 
2.25. N. Am., along Atlantic 
Coast ; breeds or did breed from 
Labrador northward, in winter 
ranging or did range S. to the 
Chesapeake. Extremely rare 
now, and apparently in fair way 
to become extinct. The same 
pair, procured by Daniel Web- 
ster, has served for Audubon's 
and Baird's descriptions, and for 
the present one ; two fine mounted 
specimens have been lately ac- 
quired by the National Museum. 
In England, $200 has been oflfered 
for a good pair. 
HISTRIO'NICUS. (Lat. Us- 
trionicus, histrionic, relating to 
histrioj a stage-player, the bird 
being tricked out in various colors, 
as if to play a part.) Harle- 
quins. Bill very small and short, 
shorter than head or tarsus, rap- 
idly tapering to rounded tip which is wholly occupied by the large fused nail; but higher than 
wide at base, and with lateral upper corners as in FuUgulifKB generally, and convex sweep 
across its side of feathers, intermediate in extent between the frontal and mental projections, 
former reaching farthest. A membranous lobe at base of commissure formed by production of 
skin of cheeks. Nostrils in basal half of bill. Wings and tail short, latter pointed and about 
half as long as former. Longer scapulars and tertiaries curving outward over the wing as in 
eiders, with which this genus connects by means of Heniconetta, though in both these genera 
the bill is simple, as usual in Fuligulince, without the peculiar gibbosity and special outlines 
of feathers characteristic of eiders. One species, remarkable for its fantastic markings, being 
patched witli diflferent colors; a metallic speculum, here only among our Fuligulince j excepting 
S. stelleri. 
H. minu'tus. (Lat. minutus, very small : not well chosen.) Harlequin Duck. Adult $ : 
Bill olivaceous ; iris reddish-brown ; feet grayish-blue, with dusky webs and pale claws. 
Aside from the definite markings to be given, general color deep leaden-blue with a purplish 
tinge, blackening on top of head, on lower back, rump, and tail above and below, darker on 
head and neck than on breast and back, changing from breast backward, including lining of 
Fig. 492. — Labrador Duck. (From Ency. Brit.) 
