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HARLEQUIN DUCK. 
The Harlequin Duck, so called from the singularity of its 
markings, is seventeen inches in length, and twenty-eight inches 
in extent ; the bill is of moderate length, of a lead color tipt with 
red, irides dark ; upper part of the head black ; between the eye 
and bill a broad space of white, extending over the eye, and end- 
ing 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 semicircle 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 behind 
the ear ; head, neck, and back, brown, palest on the forepart 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 colors it appears evi- 
dent that the young birds undergo a considerable change of plu- 
mage before they arrive at their full colors. In some the white 
spot behind the eye was large, extending irregularly half way 
down the neck ; in others confined to a roundish spot. 
The flesh of this species is said to be excellent. 
^ Latham. 
