8oo THE AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 



region, and on the lower margin of the elongated ])osterior feathers; lower belly 

 mottled with dusky; hill black; feet orange with dusky webs and claws; iris 

 orange-yellow. .Iditlt female: Head deep snufif-brown, without white spot; the 

 color not reaching so far down on the neck as black of male; remaining black of 

 male generally replaced by grayish dusky ; sides of l)reast. chest, and sides ninrc or 

 less overlaid, or underlaid, with the same; white of wing interrupted by (hisky 

 gray, mostly confined to inner secondaries and adjacent tertiaries ; bill varied 

 witli orange. Yoiinij male: T^ike adtdt female, but darker and with increasing 

 indications of loral white spot. Adult male, length 18.00-23.00 (437.2-584.2); 

 wing 9.20 ( 2_:;3.7 ) ; tail 3.50 (88.Q); bill along culmen 1.35 (34.3; bill from 

 frontal angle to tip 1.90 (48.3) ; depth of upper inaudible from frontal angle to 

 tomia .92 (23.4) ; from anterior margin of white spot to anterior angle of nostril 

 .95 (24.1); from anterior angle of nostril to tip of bill .80 (20.3); tarsus 1. 50 

 (38.1). Female length about 1O.50 (419. ij. Other dimensions proportionately 

 smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Mallard size; black and white coloration; round white 

 spot at base of bill on side; bright ycll(_)w eyes. 



Nesting. — Xest: in hollow of decayed tree or stub, lined with grass, feathers, 

 etc. Bggs: 6-10, dull greenish or pale bluish. Av. size, 2.35 .\ 1.70 (59.7 X43.2), 

 Season: May 10-jinie 20; one brood. 



General Range. — North America, breeding from Maine and the Piritish 

 Provinces northwaril : in winter south to Cuba and Me.xico. 



Range in Washington. — L'omnion winter resident and migrant, found thru- 

 out the State, but especially on salt water: sparingly resident in summer in the 

 northern and mountainous counties. 



Authorities. — Bucephala amerieana. I'.airtl, Baird, Rep. I'ac. R. R. Siu'v. 

 TX. 1858, p. 79(). T, C&S. 1,--. Rh. D'. Kk. J. 1',. E. 

 Specimens. — ( U. of \\". ) I'rov. IIX. 1{. 



OF all wing-music, from the droning of the Rufous Huniiiier to the start- 

 ling whirr of the Rulied Grouse, I know of none so thrilling sweet as the whist- 

 ling wing-note of the (^iol(len-e\'e. A p;iir of the binK h;i\e been frightened 

 from the water, and as tlie\- rise in rapid cii'cles td gain a \ iew of some 

 distant goal, the\' sow the air with \ibrant whistling sounds. ()\\ing to a 

 difference in wing-beats between male and fcnuile, the brief nionienl when the 

 wings strike in unison with the effect of a single bird, is fiilloued by an exer- 

 changing sx'iicojiation which challenges the waiting tar to tell it it does not 

 hear a dozen birds instead of onl\- two. Again, in the dim twilight of early 

 morning, while the birds are mo\'ing from a remote and secure lodging place, 

 to feed in some fa\'orite stretch of wild water, one guesses at their earl\- industry 

 from the sound of multitudinous wings abo\e, contending with the cold ether. 



The .\meric;in { ioldeii-e\e is of common occurrence in winter both npiin 

 the interior lakes and ri\-ers, and upoti the waters of Puget Sound. The birds 

 associate in small flocks, usual!}- of not more than eiglit or ten individuals, and 



