WILD FOWL. 
105 
“ The Harlequin Duck is a native of both continents. It is 
an excellent diver, has a whistling note, flies swiftly, and to a 
great elevation. It is much admired in the cabinet, and its 
flesh is said to be excellent on the table.” 
“ Adult male in summer : 
“ Bill yellowish-olive, the tips of the unguis lighter; iris red¬ 
dish-brown ; feet light blue, the webs grayish-black, the claws 
whitish ; a broad band from the base of the bill to the occiput 
bluish-black, margined behind with light yellowish-red, before 
with white, that color forming a broad triangular spot on the 
cheek, anterior to the eye; sides of the head, and neck all 
round, purplish-blue; a spot of white behind the ears ; a curved 
line on each side of the neck; a complete ring of white below 
the middle of the neck, with a curved band of the same color 
anterior to the wing; all these white markings broadly edged 
with deep black; the fore part of the back light purplish-blue, 
the hind part deepening in tint, so as to become almost black, 
of which color the rump is all round ; scapulars chiefly white ; 
wing coverts purplish-blue, as are the alula and primary 
coverts ; the quills dark grayish-brown ; the tail grayish-black; 
a small white spot near the flexure of the wing; a band of white 
across the wing, formed by the tips of the secondaries, of which 
the inner have their outer webs principally of the same color; 
fore part of the breast purplish-blue, hind part and abdomen 
grayish-brown ; sides light red; a latent spot of white near the 
root of the tail. 
“ Length to end of tail, 11\ inches ; to end of wings, 144; to 
end of claws, 16 \; extent of wings 261; wing from flexure, 7£; 
tail 3^. Weight II lbs. 
“ The male does not attain his full plumage until after the 
third moult.”— Audubon's Birds of America. 
