THE AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 799 



Recognition Marks. — Between .Mallard ami Teal size; short occipital crest; 

 chestnut collar : white chin ; transverse white bar on breast and wavy-barred sides 

 of male serve to distinguish this bird from the other "Blackheads." which it super- 

 ficially resembles. Peculiar yellowish brown of sides distinctive for female. 



Nesting. — Not known to breed in Washington. Xest: on the ground in 

 grassy marshes or lakeside swamps. Eggs: 6-12. indistinguishable in color from 

 those of preceding species. -\v. size. 2.25 .x 1. 60 (57.2 X40.6). 



General Range. — North .America, breeding far north and migrating south to 

 Guatemala and the ^^'est Indies. 



Range in Washington. — Rather rare migrant on Puget Sound. 



Authorities.— [Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. (1814) Ed. Biddle : Coues. \'ol. 

 II. p. 19s. I Piilix collaris. Baird. Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IN. i8^8, p. 70^. 

 T. B. E(H). 



Specimens. — (V. of W.) Prov. C. 



THIS elegant s])ecies bears a general resemblance ti.i the Lesser Scaup, 

 btit is niiwhere so common unless it be in Minnesota, the center of its breeding: 

 range. L'nlike the Scaup, it is ne\"er seen in large flocks, seldom in com])anies 

 of above a dozen or twenty individuals, and single birds are more frecpientlv 

 encountered llian in the case of any utiier species. The bird shuns the open 

 water, so much frequented by Blue-bills, and is seldom <ir ne\er seen on salt 

 water, not even on the tide-water marshes. In flight the individuals of a flock 

 scatter widely, and they are likel_\- to became still fmnlier separated as they 

 feed in the rushes and deeper growth of the swamps and interior lakes. Here 

 they sul)sist upon cra\-fis]i, snails, frngs, insects, and the various sorts of seeds 

 which drd]) into the water from o\"erhanging vegetation. 



When surprised the Ringneck rises upon softly whistling wings, and beats 

 a rapid retreat, while you notice the loose occipital feathers, rufiled b\- fear 

 into a bush}- crest, and obser\e that there is iin wdiite rm the head, to cause 

 confusion with other crested species. 



No. 321. 



AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 



A. O. \J. No. 151. Clangula clanguia americana (Bonap.). 



Synonyms. — Golde.\'-Kvk. \\ ihsti.kk. G-\rrot. 



Description. — Adult male: Head and upper neck black, with a greenish 

 gloss above and on sides ; a circular white spot at base of upper mandible on side, 

 but not reaching upper angle of bill ; lower neck all around, underparts, the mid- 

 dle and greater wing coverts, the inner secondaries, and outer scapulars, centrally, 

 pure white ; remaining upperparts black, the white scapulars being black-bordered, 

 and the feathers of sides similarly black-bordered along upper margin of the 



