LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL 

 ORDER ANSERES (PART) 



By Arthur Cleveland Bent 

 of Taunton^ Massachusetts 



Family ANATIDAE, Ducks, Geese, and Swans 



GLAUCIONETTA CLANGULA AMERICANA (Bonaparte) 

 AMERICAN GOLDENEYE 



HABITS 



Sfring. — With the breaking up of winter in Massachusetts, when 

 the February sun has loosened the icy fetters of our rivers and the 

 ice cakes are floating out of our harbors, the genial warmth of ad- 

 vancing spring arouses amorous instincts in the breasts of the 

 warm-blooded goldeneyes. The plumage of the drakes has reached 

 its highest stage of perfection; their heads fairly glisten with 

 metallic green luster, in sharp contrast with their spotless white 

 under parts; and their feet glow with brilliant orange hues. They 

 must seem handsome indeed to their more somber companions of 

 the opposite sex, as they chase each other about over the water, 

 making the spray fly in ardent combat. They are strenuous, active 

 suitors, and their courtships are well worth watching. 



Oourtship. — This interesting performance, the most spectacular 

 courtship of any of the ducks, has been fully described in detail by 

 Mr. William Brewster (1911). Rather than attempt to quote 

 from such an exhaustive account, I would refer the reader to this 

 excellent article, which is well illustrated and worthy of careful 

 study. I prefer to quote Dr. Charles W. Townsend's (1910) account 

 of it, which is more concise and yet quite complete; he writes: 



One or more males swim restlessly back and forth and around a female. 

 The feathers of the cheeks and crest of the male are so erected that the head 

 looks large and round, the neck correspondingly small. As he swims along, 

 the head is thrust out in front close to the water, occasionally dabbling at 

 it. Suddenly he springs forward, elevating his breast, and at the same time 

 he enters on the most typical and essential part of the performance. The 

 neck is stretched straight up, and the bill, pointing to the zenith, is opened 

 to emit a harsh, rasping double note, zzee-at, vibratory and searching in 



