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Remarks (Male Old Squaw is too distinct)
The male Old Squaw is too distinct to be confused with any other species, its long tail-feathers being its most striking character; the species, its long tail -feathers being its most striking character; the female bears some resemblance to the female of the Harlequin Duck, but has the belly pure white instead of grayish dusky.
SEA DUCKS.
Range.-Northern hemisphere; breeds in the far north, and, in America, winters as far south as the upper Mississippi Valley and Virginia. Washington, rare W. V., Nov. to Apl. Long Island, abundant W. V., Nov. 1 to Apl. 15. Sing Sing, tolerably common W. V., Dec. 4 to Apl. 6. Cambridge, rather common in Oct. and Nov.
Nest, on the ground near water, under low bushes or tall grasses. Eggs, six to twelve, pale bluish tinged with olive, 2.05 × 1.49. In The Auk for 1892, pp. 330-337, Mr. George H. Mackay gives a capital account of the habits of this species in our waters. He speaks of them as the swiftest flying as well as the noisiest (in the spring) of all the sea fowl which tarry with us, and gives their curious scolding or talking notes as o-onc-o-onc-ough, egh-ough-egh. Their flight is generally near the water, and when shot at while flying they sometimes dive from the wing. He also mentions their habit of towering, "usually in the afternoon, collecting in mild weather in large flocks if undisturbed, and going up in circles so high as to be scarcely discernible, often coming down with a rush and great velocity, a portion of the flock scattering and coming down in a zigzag course similar to the Scoters when whistled down." 155. Histrionicus histrionicus (Linn.). HARLEQUIN DUCK. Ad. 8. -Center of the crown black, margined by white and rufous; front of the sides of the head, a spot on the ear, a stripe back of it, and a collar around the back and sides of the neck white; rest of the head and throat rich slaty blue; a band in front of the wing white, margined with black; inner scapulars white; back and breast bluish slate; belly fuscous; sides rufous-chestnut. Ad. 2.- Front of the head whitish; a white spot on the ears; upper parts brownish fuscous; throat, breast, and sides lighter; belly grayish brown, margined with whitish. L., 17.00; W., 7·80; Tar., 1.50; B., 1.05.
Range." Northern North America, breeding from Newfoundland, the northern Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada, northward; south in winter to the Middle States and California" (A. O. U.). Long Island, rare W. V.
Nest, on the ground or in hollow stumps near water. Eggs, six to eight, yellowish buff or greenish yellow, 2.30 x 1.62 (Davie). Unlike other members of this subfamily, this species passes the breeding season on rapid dashing streams, but during the winter it occurs as a Sea Duck off our more northern coasts. 156. Camptolaimus labradorius (Gmel.). LABRADOR DUCK;