Island Bird Notes. Wm. Dutcher 
3 - Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck. — Mr. 
Rnoess infoi ms me that during the time he has been engaged as 
a taxidei mist at Rivcihead, he has mounted four specimens of 
this species. I have secured the following particulars regarding 
the capture of three of them. 
Mr. W. W. Reeves, of Greenport, Suffolk Co., writes : “I shot 
the Harlequin Duck in January, 1865, on Gull Island, while I 
was keeper of the light. There were four of them living around 
the Island sometime before I had a chance to kill one. The bird 
I secured was a male. I crippled a female at the same time but 
did not secure her, as the tide was running so swiftly. They 
were the first of the kind I ever saw, nor have I seen but two 
since. They are a diving Duck, and like to play around the 
rocks. I watched them play several times while they were there ; 
they chased each other about as boys do while playing tag. 
^ “I have gunned over forty years, and as far south as Savannah, 
Ga., and never saw this Duck anywhere except on the island, so 
I think it a rare bird.” 
Mr. Josiah Robbins, of Bayshore, Suffolk Co,, writes: “The 
Hailequin Duck which I have is a male and was alone when 
shot. It was killed in the latter part of January, 1883, in the 
South Bay. opposite Fire Island Inlet. The bay was frozen over 
at the time, except a few air-holes. It was killed by Capt. 
Samuel Hulse, who is about fifty-five years of age, and has 
always followed the bay. He says it is the only one that was 
ever seen here, to his knowledge.” 
Mr. George E. Post, of Greenport, writes: “My Harlequin 
Duck I think is by no means common. They are here only in 
very cold winters, and even then only a few. The one I have 
was shot on the shore of Long Island Sound, near the village of 
Southold. I think it is a male.” 
Giraud says of this species: “On the shores of Long Island I 
have known the young only to occur, although some of our most 
experienced bay-men say that a number of years since the oc- 
currence of the adult was not unusual. ” * 
It is probable, owing to the marked appearance of this bird, 
that almost all that are shot in this locality, where it is so rare, 
are preserved, and we therefore in the above records have 
approximately its numbers in the waters that surround the 
island. 
Birds of Long Island, p. 337.1 
Auk, 3, Oct., 1880. p. 
Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck.— One specimen in the 
collection, recorded in Auk, Vol. VI, p. 67, by George B. Badger. 
-A.>ak X. July , 1893 p 270. 
Another Harlequi^B'uck Record for Long Island. T A male Harlequin 
Duck ( Histrionicus histrionicus') was shot at Orient Point (directly oppo- 
site Plum Island, L. I., where the species has formerly been taken) on 
November 11, 1895, and was mounted by a local bird stuffer. A female 
accompanied the male but was not procured. The male is now in the pos- 
session of Mrs. James Douglas of Orient, L. I. — W. W. Worthington, 
Skelter Island Heights, N. V. 
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