317 
The Ornitholigist is indebted to G. Mon- 
tagu for the first notice of this bird as a 
British species. His description was given 
from specimens in the possession of Mr. 
Sowerby, they were killed on the domains 
of Lord Seaforth, in Scotland, a few years 
since. 
" The great Linnaeus (says Montagu) had 
considered the female of this species as 
distinct from his Anas histrionica, and has 
given it under the name of Anas minuta, 
Gmelin has followed him, but not without 
expressing his doubts. Various other 
authors have considered the sexes as distinct 
species ; but later observations have clear- 
ly proved, beyond a doubt, that the Anas 
minuta is no other than the female Harle- 
quin Duck" 
This species is about the size of a Wi- 
geon, but shorter, measuring seventeen 
inches in length ; and weighs twenty 
ounces. 
The female is less than the male being 
not more than fourteen inches in length. 
It is said to frequent bays and rivers du- 
ring the summer months and to be fond of 
