8o2 . THE BUFFLEHEAD. 



or open-wing-shaped white s])ot at 1)ase of bill on side ; head with purplish gloss. 

 Female like preceding, — distinguishable with cerlaint}- (mly by blackish Ups of 

 greater coverts. 



Nesting. — Xcst and lujj/s like those of preceding >pecies. Av. of eggs, 

 J.47 X 1.77 (62.7x43). Season: c.June 1st; one brood. 



General Range. — Northern North .America; south in winter to New York, 

 Illinois, i'tah, and San Francisco Bay; breeding in the mountains frmn Oregon 

 a)id Cdloradd nnrtlnvard. Greenland; Iceland: casual in western Euroi)e. 



Range in Washington. — Not uncommon spring and fall migrant ; common 

 resident in winter on bays and inlets of Puget Sound, Gray's Harbor, etc.; spar- 

 ingly resident in summer in the mountains. 



Authorities. — Glancioiictta ishiinlica. Lawrence ( R. II.), .\uk, \"ul. I.X. 

 Jan. iS(,2, p. 4_'. L'. Rh. D'. E. 



Specimens. — ( L'. of W . } I'rov. BN. 



WHILE this species is much more conir.Kin than the preceding thruoul the 

 State, its habits are very little known sa\e in winter, and there is little tu dif- 

 ferentiate it to ciininiiin nbserxatinn fmni its better-knuwn but nn nmre truly 

 "American" kinsman, C. c. aiiwricaiui. A flock whicli had clisco\ered that im- 

 munitv was to be had along the shore of the Navy Yard at Bremerton, once al- 

 lowed a close approach very gratifying to the bird-man. Their presence also 

 seemed peculiarly fitting at this spot, for they sal the water like men-of-war 

 themselves, and the mind confessed the same desire to folli_)w their many 

 cruisings. 



Golden-eye breeds in the mountains of Washmgton, just as it does in 

 Colorado and California, but knowledge of the precise location of a nest has 

 ne\"er been the good fortune of an\' student in ihe Pacilic Northwest. 



No. 323. 



BUFFLEHEAD. 



A. O. U. No. 153. Charitonetta albeola (Linn.) 



Synonyms. — Bi'T'i'i;r-i;.\i.l. Si'irit Di'ck. 



Description. — .-liliilt male: Feathers of head i)uffy, somewhat lengthened 

 along crest and nape; head and upper neck black, sooty below, with brilliant 

 violet, purple, steel-blue, and bronze-green metallic reflections ; a broad white 

 space from eye to eye around occiput; back, inner scapulars and tertiaries with 

 touches on coverts and some narrow ]:iordering on the outer scapulars and up- 

 turned side-feathers glossy black; upper tail-coverts and tail ashy gray; remaining 

 plumage, including a broad collar around neck, white; belly silky or washed with 

 pale gray; bill dull bluish with dusky nail and base: feet flesh color, with black 

 claws; iris brown. Adult female: Head and neck mouse-brown, darker on crown, 

 lighter on throat; a dull white patch below and behind eye: s])eculum narrowly 



