. Birds and nature . agle wasperched on the grape-arbor easily survey-ing the lay of things. A cat had crawledinto the wood-pile and under the door-steps the venerable cock of the yard wascongratulating himself on his safety, butfeeling rather undignified. I procured arope and took my first lessons in lasso-ing. The eagle had been so closely con-fined that he had not been able to gain thefull use of his wings, and so could onlyrun or flutter a few feet from the finally recaptured him and brought himback. He showed no fear and offered lit-tle resistance. About the middle of March the w
. Birds and nature . agle wasperched on the grape-arbor easily survey-ing the lay of things. A cat had crawledinto the wood-pile and under the door-steps the venerable cock of the yard wascongratulating himself on his safety, butfeeling rather undignified. I procured arope and took my first lessons in lasso-ing. The eagle had been so closely con-fined that he had not been able to gain thefull use of his wings, and so could onlyrun or flutter a few feet from the finally recaptured him and brought himback. He showed no fear and offered lit-tle resistance. About the middle of March the weatherbecame very hot, and it was reallycruel to keep the bird penned up in suchclose quarters in such weather, so I tookhim out to the plains and set him could not use his wings much, and itis very doubtful if he escaped the shot-gun or rifle of some predatory small boy,but it was the best I could do for was a beautiful specimen of a bird,and I only wish I could have kept Elmer Jennev. 152. S. 2 8s a S3 THE HARLEQUIN DUCK. (Histrionicus histrionicus) The Harlequin Duck is the sole repre-sentative of the genus to which it be-longs. The generic and the specificnames (Histrionicus), which unfortu-nately the strict rules of scientific namingrequire in the case of this bird to be thesame, are from the Latin word meaningharlequin. This word, meaning a buf-foon, is especially appropriate, for thearrangement of the colors on its head,neck and back give the bird a peculiarappearance, especially during the matingseason. At this time, too, the drolleryof their actions is very noticeable. Harlequin is not the only name bywhich this bird is known. In the NewTEngland States and northward along theAtlantic coast it is frequently called theLord and Lady, because of the whitecrescents and spots of its plumage andthe proud bearing of the male. It is alsocalled the Rock Duck, the MountainDuck and the Squealer. Its range covers the northern portionof North Am
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