434 
ANATIDA5. 
The nest is composed of dry plants of various kinds, 
arranged in a circular manner to the height of two or 
three inches, and lined with finer grasses. The eggs are 
five or six, rarely more.” 
I have to thank Mr. Henry B. Milner for the follow¬ 
ing particulars: — “Of this species, which is scattered 
throughout the island, though nowhere abundantly, I 
was fortunate enough to discover one nest, containing 
six eggs. It was situated in an island in the rapid river 
Laxa, nearly in the centre, among the low arbutus; I 
also saw a female and two half-fledged young ones in a 
stream near the Geysers. The female I shot, but did not 
succeed in capturing the young ones. As far as I could 
observe, the Harlequin Duck only haunts the rapid rivers 
and streams; I saw about twelve pairs the time I was 
in Iceland, and never in one instance observed them in 
any of the numerous lakes which abound through the 
island.” 
Holboell says that this is a rare bird in North Green¬ 
land, whilst it is very common between 62° and 65° north 
latitude. The nest is always on the bank of a very rapid 
brook, and is so well concealed under plants and willows, 
that it is only very rarely discovered. The young ones 
are immediately led into the sea. They like a ruffled sea, 
and are usually found, when not breeding-time, at the 
most outward islands, where they dive in the midst of 
the breakers. 
