barrow's golden-eye. 351 



and stretches its feet out behind. Born only for the water, the 

 Golden-eye, except in the season of propagation, seldom quits 

 it but to dry itself awhile in the air, and immediately after 

 returns to its natural element. 



The Whistlers are common throughout the country, breeding 

 from Maine and Manitoba to the lower fur countries, and winter- 

 ing from the Bay of Fundy to Cuba. 



BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE. 



rocky mountain golden-eye. whistler. 



Glaucionetta islandica. 



Char. Similar to the Common Golden-eye, but the white patch on 

 the cheek oblong or pear-shaped, instead of round. 



Nest, In a hollow tree, made of twigs and moss lined with down. 



Eggs. 6-10 ; bright green when fresh, but fading to a dull grayish tint; 

 2.45 X I.75- 



Barrow's Golden-eye Duck is so much like the more common 

 Whistler that few but experts can separate them, the shape of the 

 white patch on the cheeks of the male being the only distinguishing 

 characteristic. 



In habits the two species do not differ, but the present one is 

 found farther north, breeding from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to 

 northern Greenland, and wintering to the Bay of Fundy, northern 

 New York, Illinois, and Utah. On the Atlantic coast it is rarely 

 seen so far south as Massachusetts. 



I am inclined to question the statement made in " The Water 

 Birds of North America," that these birds " undoubtedly breed " 

 along the St. Croix River. An occasional unfertile or unhealthy 

 example may linger in the Bay of Fundy and adjacent waters during 

 the summer months, but no evidence has been obtained of an evi- 

 dently mated pair having been seen there. Neither Wilson nor 

 Audubon knew this bird, and Nuttall writes : " It has hitherto been 

 found only in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains." 



