:82 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



bills. It has not been observed in summer in Southern Ontario, but 

 breeds commonly throughout the North-West. In Alaska, Turner 

 mentions having seen the species at St. Michael's and on the Aleutian 

 Islands, but in small numbers, and so shy that he was unable to 

 secure a specimen. 



Genus GLAUCIONETTA Stejxeger. 

 GLAUCIONEXTA CLANGULA AMERICANA (Boxap.). 



51. American Golden-eye. (151) 



Male: — With the head and upper neck, glossy green, and a white oval (»■ 

 rounded loral spot, not touching the base of the bill throughout ; lower neck all 

 round, lower parts, including sides, most of the scapulars, wing coverts and 

 secondaries, wliite ; the white of outer surface of wings, continuous ; lining of 

 M'ings and axillars, dark ; most of upper parts, Ijlack ; no waving on the ))ack 

 or sides; bill, black with pale or yelloM' end, with nostrils in anterior half; 

 feet, orange; webs, dusky; eyes, yellow; head, uniformly pufiS'. Female: — 

 With head snufi'-brown, and no white patch in front of the eye, and white of 

 wings not always continuous. Length, 16-19; wing, 8-9. 



H.\B. — North America, breeding from Maine and tlie liritish Provinces 

 northward ; in winter, south to Cuba. 



Nest, m hollow trees; it is made of grass, leaves aiul moss, lined \\ith down. 



Eggs, eight to ten, ashy-green. 



This species is a regular visitor at Hamilton Bay during the 

 spring and fall migrations. While here they do not keep by them- 

 selves, but seek the society of whatever species ma}^ be at hand. 

 They are very watchful, and difficult of approach. If any one of my 

 readers has ever tried to scull up behind the rushes towards a bunch 

 of Bluebills, among which were one or two Golden-eyes, and suc- 

 ceeded in getting a shot, he has had much better kn-k than T liaxc 

 had. Frequently, before getting within one hundivd yards, I would 

 hear the whistling of the Golden-eyes' wings, and looking up, see 

 them going off, with the others following. Like many others which 

 are known in Southern Ontario only as visitors in spring and fall, 

 the Golden-eyes Ijreed in suitable places throughout the Noith-West 

 Territory. 



Dr. Bell mentions their breeding near Norway House, on Hudson's 

 Bay, and Mr. Nelson says : " In the Aleutian Islands this bird is a 

 winter resident, as observed by Mr. Dall. The same authoi- also 

 reports it as being always one of the first arrivals along the Yukon." 

 At the shooting stations in Southern Ontario it is not abundant, but 



