2^2 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



black, glossed with purple ; most feathers of wings, greyish- 

 brown ; rump, upper and under tail-coverts, black, with 

 glossy reflections ; irides, yellow ; bill, pale slate-blue ; nail, 

 black; legs and feet, slate-grey. Length, from seventeen 

 to nineteen inches. The adult female has the general 

 colour of upper plumage and breast brown, with a few 

 vermiculations of whitish ; flanks, faintly barred with brown; 

 forehead and chin, whitish. The young resemble the adult 

 females, but the feathers round the base of the bill show 

 much less whitish. 



Golden Eye. 



The Golden Eye {Clangula glaucion, Linnaeus) is a 

 common autumn and winter migrant to the British 

 Islands, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic 

 Regions. The adult male has the head and upper part 

 of neck black, with green and purple reflections ; a white 

 spot under the lores ; upper plumage varied with black 

 and white ; under parts, white ; thighs, brown ; irides, rich 

 yellow ; bill, black ; legs and toes, orange ; webs, blackish. 

 Length, from seventeen to nineteen inches. The adult 

 female is less in size, and lacks the white on the face. The 

 young in first plumage are similar to the adult female. 

 (P. 253.) 



