DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 61 
Nest. — In hollow tree or hole in bank. Eggs: 9 to 14, grayish buff, 
unusually rounded, for a duck. 
During migration the buffle-head is common and often abundant 
over most of the western United States. It is a conspicuous little 
duck, and the male is easily recognized by its small size, white sides, 
and breast. The flocks generally keep out in the open water of 
lakes and rivers, where they dive for their food, but are sometimes 
surprised in small ponds or creeks in the shelter of grassy banks. 
In fall they often remain till the last hole in the ice is closed up, 
and in spring are back again close to the retreating ice. 
Vernon Bailey. 
GENUS HARELDA. 
154. Harelda hyemalis (Linn.). Old-squaw. 
A trim little duck with short bill; male with long slender tail; head 
not crested. Adult male in winter : head and fore parts to shoulders and 
breast white, except for 
patches of ashy and dusky 
on side of head; back, 
middle tail feathers, and 
breast black ; belly white 
posteriorly, shading into 
pearl gray on sides. Adult 
male in summer: sooty, ex¬ 
cept for white belly, ash 
gray face, and white eye¬ 
lids ; back and scapulars 
streaked with chestnut. 
Adult female in winter: tail 
not lengthened ; head, 
neck, and under parts 
mainly white ; chest gray¬ 
ish ; crown dusky, rest of upper parts dusky brown, the scapulars bor¬ 
dered with lighter brown. Adult female in summer: head and neck 
grayish brown, with whitish spaces around eye and on side of neck. 
Young: similar to female in summer. Male: length 20.75-23.00, wing 
8.50-9.00, middle tail feathers8.00-8.50, bill 1.10. Female: length 15-16, 
wing 8-9, tail 8. 
Distribution. — Northern part of northern hemisphere ; south in winter 
nearly across the United States ; breeding from Labrador to Alaska. 
Nest. — Usually on the grassy bank of a pond or stream, made of grass 
and lined with down. Eggs : 5 to 9. 
The old-squaw, or long-tailed duck, is mainly a bird of the arctic 
coasts, migrating south into the northern United States in winter. 
GENUS HISTRIONICUS. 
155. Histrionicus histrionicus (Linn.). Harlequin Duck. 
A small duck with moderate crest, short bill, and long sharp tail. 
Fig. 77. 
