GOLDENEYE. 59 



feathers of the nape standing out, giving it a peculiarly big- 

 headed appearance ; on the wing this is just as prominent, for 

 the feathers stand out round the short, thin neck. The 

 difference in size between the feniales and males is very 

 remarkable, but the young drakes do not look so big as the old 

 pied birds. As a winter visitor the Goldeneye is frequent, but 

 it is as a passage migrant that it is most abundant, at any rate 

 in Cheshire, where little parties may constantly be seen 

 throughout October and November, and again in March and 

 April. The first birds usually reach the inland waters in 

 August, and some linger until May or even June. The Golden- 

 eye is nervous, and unsociable so far as other species are 

 concerned ; it swims and feeds by itself or with a few of its 

 own kind, but seldom consorts with other ducks. When a man 

 approaches the lake it is the first to rise, and is quicker in 

 getting on the wing than other divers, though it often scutters 

 across the water, splashing with its feet. Once on the wing it 

 flies swiftly, often close to the surface, and does not drop until 

 it reaches the farthest extent of the pool. " Rattlewing " and 

 " Whistler " are two descriptive local names, for the noise it 

 makes in flight — more of a whistle than a rattle — is far louder 

 than that produced by other ducks ; it reminds me of the ring 

 of thin ice cracking under the bows of a boat. I have heard 

 the whistle of an old drake's wings across water from fully half 

 a mile away. Vocally the bird is not demonstrative, though I 

 have startled it into uttering a harsh grunting expostulation, 

 deeper than that of the Pochard, but with the same guttural 

 suggestion of ^r. It has also a nuptial note, emitted with the 

 head thrown upward, but this I have not heard. Gould figures 

 drakes, flat on the water, with wings half spread so as to 

 show the white pattern to advantage, and with the head drawn 

 back and bill pointed upward as they call. 



The Goldeneye is thoroughly at home on the water ; it 

 seldom comes to land; ashore it stands in a more upright 



