182 CLANGULA CHRYSOPHTHALMA. 



calm weather may be heard at a considerable distance. At 

 night they repose chiefly on the water, but sometimes on 

 points of land. If shot at while feeding, they dive, and 

 appear after a considerable interval, at a great distance ; but 

 owing to their vigilance and activity, it is difficult to get near 

 them, although, when without a gun, I have several times 

 been allowed to approach within shooting distance, and on 

 such occasions they merely swim sloAvly away. In rising 

 from the water, they strike it wdth their feet and wings, to 

 the distance of several yards, but, on occasion, they can rise 

 at a single effort, especially when there is a breeze. 



The young and females of this species are greatly more 

 numerous, in proportion to the males, in the southern parts of 

 the country, and in the northern flocks are sometimes seen, 

 composed entirely of males. It is said that in their southward 

 migration the males advance first, the young remaining a 

 considerable time behind the females, and in proceeding 

 northward the males again take the lead, being several days 

 in advance The nest is described as being formed of grass 

 and herbage, and placed on the ground, or sometimes in 

 crevices of rocks, as well as holes in trees. The female plucks 

 the down from her breast to cover the eggs, which are nume- 

 rous, elliptical, smooth, and of a greenish tint. 



Young. — When the young arrive in Britain they resemble 

 the female, differing only in having the upper parts darker, the 

 brown on the head of a deeper tint, the greyish-brown more 

 extended on the abdomen, and including the lower tail- 

 coverts, Avhich are white in the adult female, many of the 

 feathers on the hind part of the breast being very slightly 

 tipped with brown. Seven of the secondary quills are white, 

 as in the adult, as are their coverts, of which the tips, as well 

 as the bases, are black. The bill and feet arc also darker 

 than in the adult female. Young males are distinguishable 

 by their greater size and darker tints. 



Progress toward Maturity. — Tlie young females under- 

 go little change. The males in the second year have their 

 dark parts of a deeper tint, the head and upper neck glossy 



