298 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



offered it on the Boston Back Bay, and may be seen any 

 day in winter on each side of the Harvard Bridge. 



The Whistler's flight is rapid and characteristic, and is 

 accompanied by a sharp, whistling sound. When in the air, 



Fig. 86. American Golden-eye 



the white under parts and the white ' patches in the wing are 

 conspicuous. From the Red-breasted Mergansers, which also 

 show white below and on the wing, the short thick head and 

 short neck distinguish it. The black head and the small 

 white sjyot before the eye distinguish the male. The female 

 has a dull reddish-brown head and is often mistaken by 

 beginners for the very rare Bed-head, or confused with 

 the female Scaup Ducks. She may be separated from the 

 latter by the lack of any white about the base of the bill. 



Lesser Scaup Duck; Little Blue-bill. Aythya 



affinis 



16.50 



Ad. — Similar to the following species but smaller, and head 

 and neck of male showing at close range purplish instead of 

 greenish reflections. 



