HARLEQUIN DUCK. 
173 
inches in extent ; the bill is of moderate length, of a lead colour, 
tipt with red ; irides, dark ; upper part of the head, black ; be- 
tween the eye and bill, a broad space of white, extending over 
the eye, and ending in reddish ; behind the ear, a similar spot; 
neck, black ; ending below in a circle of white ; breast, deep 
slate ; shoulders or sides of the breast, marked with a semi- 
circle of white ; belly, black ; sides, chestnut ; body above, 
black, or deep slate, some of the scapulars, white ; greater 
wing-coverts, tipt with the same ; legs and feet, deep ash ; vent 
and pointed tail, black. 
The female is described as being less, “ the forehead, and 
between the bill and eye, white, with a spot of the same be- 
hind the ear ; head, neck, and back, brown, palest on the fore 
part of the neck ; upper part of the breast, and rump, red 
brown ; lower breast and belly, barred pale rufous and white ; 
behind the thighs, rufous and brown; scapulars and wing- 
coverts, rufous brown ; outer greater ones, blackish ; quills and 
tail, dusky, the last inclining to rufous ; legs, dusky,’’* 
The few specimens of this duck which I have met with, 
were all males ; and from the variation in their colours it ap- 
pears evident that the young birds undergo a considerable 
change of plumage before they arrive at their full colours. In 
some the white spot behind the eye was large, extending irre- 
gularly half way down the neck ; in others confined to a round- 
ish spot. 
The flesh of this species is said to be excellent. 
* Latham. 
