GOLDEN-EYED GARROT. 181 



other, to the southern extremity of England. In Ireland, 

 also, according to Mr. Thompson, they are regular winter 

 visitants. It is chiefly to lakes, pools, and rivers, that they 

 resort, generally in small flocks, but sometimes in great 

 numbers ; and their food consists principally of the larvae of 

 aquatic insects, for Avliich they dive in the clear Avater. In 

 most of the individuals which I have examined, the gizzard 

 contained some of the larva?, of a whitish or greenish colour, 

 with a dusky case, intermixed with sand and small fragments 

 of quartz ; and I have seen the whole intestinal tube filled 

 Avith the cases of these larvse, in the same manner as that of 

 a gallinaceous bird is filled with the undigested ligneous parts 

 of its food. In such instances sand is usually mixed with the 

 refuse, but not the fragments of quartz, although the pylorus 

 is wide, and has no valve. They also feed on small fresh- 

 water mollusca ; but I have not observed any vegetable sub- 

 stances in their oesophagus or stomach, beyond a few flies, 

 which perhaps might have been swallowed accidentally. In 

 one instance I have seen remains of small fishes in the gizzard. 

 But, although essentially lake Ducks, they often, especially in 

 frosty weather, resort to estuaries, as well as the open coasts, 

 where they procure testaceous mollusca, Crustacea, and fishes. 

 Their flesh is very dark coloured, and although savoury, not 

 at all pleasant, unless its natural fishy flavour be concealed 

 by arts known to the cook and the epicure. Yet they are 

 generally plentiful in our markets, but especially the young 

 and females, which go under the comprehensive name of 

 Wigeons. 



Owing to the pied appearance of the males, the Golden- 

 eyes make a fine show on the water, and especially on those 

 dull dark pools of the north Highlands and Hebrides, of which 

 the surrounding scenery is dismal enough at all seasons, but 

 especially in winter. When undisturbed they float lightly ; 

 but if alarmed, have the faculty of sinking deeper. They 

 swim with great speed, dive instantaneously, and are active 

 and lively in all their movements, unless, as some say, when 

 on land, where however I have never seen them walking. 

 They fly with rapidity, in a direct manner, their small, stiff, 

 sharp-pointed wings, producing a whistling sound, which in 



