H A R L EQ U I N DUCK.
Anas liisfcrionica, hmn.
Clangula histrionica, Leach.
Karra»*, ever hanndlesim, her n$ource8 and ever varying in hi* details, appears net ||§|§hit
i»'.^iwdaeiiig. which lo adortU¡ire 'dtMime of tlie
fotfhcrtd race: and yciy strong and decided a» the contrast inay fee, the whole effect *« «ad
■delightful.. ^ ^3 SO “ p l| m m m i:*iri^ which jrains its name from the multiplicity • • .¡. . ¡(;.:,.,s,
-•ruvrik-gii which, unlike iW*f produced a» '# and observed only «(>., v*SfrftK w ^ ^ n r
.pemwiency and without jrt*atw<d. are | | | the e&urfdfoHM# a s f a i ^ and arc ee•.tinned ieatfc«»-
through successive generauo^.
The general contour o f vte body togv'tfeer ihc wwrkmgti o f its plumage would seem to aUy it
m :i!v ji- wa« &ttwi by'MriYawefl and ourselves no? to approach
■m. n«ari.y to ilral trii» of U r * ■ iSd a f< f c i i ^ f a i l o i l Djiok, M g km lk, Leach." ¿riiir
circamstanee, together mill its general simitimy ia bone to fto skeleton of the GoMen Eye, t a miliSl] la
to arrange the Harlequin Duck under the same genua with it
Although higher latitudes than the British ishmds constitute the true habitat of the Harlequin'Duck, it
hrus nevertheless. been frequently captured here, and both sexes earich several of our • collections of aatjve
birds. its presence, however, is attended with great uncertainty both in this country and in ail the tempera«;
portions of Europe. It is consequently prized by ornithological collectors as one o f their greatest rarities.
.The Arctic regions, which are enriched with so many aquatic birds, afford thi^beautiful species a residence
especially adapted to its solitary mode o f life, as well as su p p lin g it with &jery necessary conducive to its
«distouce. It is said to be peculiarly local iu its, places-of resort, preferring inland streams in foe neighbourhood
of waterfalls and cataracts. It is abundant iu Norway, Russia, and Siberia | | and was also observed by
Dr. Ridiardson while pursuing his course from Hudson’s Bay to the shores of the polar seas, sometimes in
pairs, but not (infrequently in small docks of eight or ten. Tt breeds netu’ the waterfo edge, generally laying
frpia six to twelve eggs, of a pure white. Its powers of diving are said to be* great; hence it seeks its food,
which consists o f shell-fish and inollusca, at the bottoms of rivere and inlets of the sea. It flies with great
rapidity, mid is capable of performing extensive migrations in a very short time.
The disparity iu size hs-tween the sexes hi »ir^fiingijr «^parent, the* feh d e being ftU a thitd «mite» <$#!
the m h y a n d m n atU filf |3n>« »* eolourijig. W* ¡m e to fHauh the Rot f% TL l-m - J
Kmg’s College Cambridge, for the '.••.tan of tire fcntak tmm obid» our figure we* Hite» fihtf ftsfoitfojtete bus
«Iso most liberally offered us- any i&faar ia kisvdijtybk; **u>^be'e?!t^artv; :*|pffr~*aWhe pwrpc«*!.
Tfee cheeks and neck are black, with dark viek't Mftuniona ; .> triangular sijxfce- between the beak and the
eye, a spot behind the eye, a longitudinal hand on the sides of the neck,two crescent-shaped collars on the
/ a t . . ^v® scapulaw .are «Rot tt pure white : over « - a eye ?s siiaiated a ruious. band which