4 BULLETIN 130, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



cavity from the ground; the opening was well decorated with the 

 tell-tale down, and at the bottom of the cavity, 2 feet deep, was a set 

 of 14 eggs, in which incubation had begun, and one addled last year's 

 egg, completely buried in a profusion of white down, so well matted 

 together that it could be lifted from the eggs without falling apart, 

 like a soft warm blanket. 



In the Lake Winnipegosis region in Manitoba, where large hollow 

 trees are scarce, we found the goldeneyes making the best of rather 

 poor accommodations. We examined four nests all of which were in 

 small, hollow burr oaks {Querciis macrocarpa) which were about the 

 only trees in which suitable hollows could be found ; the entrances to 

 all of these nests were not over 5 feet from the ground; in some cases 

 the trees were so badly split that the eggs were partially exposed to 

 wind and rain and much of the down from the nests had been blown 

 out onto surrounding trees and bushes; two such nests, found on 

 June 2, with incomplete sets, were at the bottoms of large cavities, 

 practically on a level Avith the ground in old stubs so badly cracked 

 that the eggs were plainly visible. We were told that the " wood 

 ducks," as they are called, would desert their nests if the eggs were 

 handled, which proved to be true in the only two instances where 

 we tried it. 



According to Mr. John Macoun (1909) a nest was found by Mr. 

 William Spreadborough " in a hollow cottonwood log on the 

 ground," near Indian Head, Saskatchewan. He also quotes Mr. G. 

 E. Wliite as saying that the " nest is composed of grass, leaves, and 

 moss and lined with feathers." I have never seen anything but rotten 

 chips and down in a goldeneye's nest, and I doubt if any outside 

 material is ever brought in. Prol^ably the duck does not always take 

 the trouble to clean out a cavity, but lays its eggs on whatever accu- 

 mulation of rubbish happens to be there. The down is added as incu- 

 bation advances until a thick warm blanket is provided to cover the 

 eggs, when necessary, during the absence of the bird. I have a beauti- 

 ful nest of this species in my collection, taken in 1901, with a thickly 

 matted down quilt over the eggs which, though repeatedly handled, 

 has retained its shape and consistency up to the present time. 



According to Kev. F. C. R. Jourdain the goldeneye has been fre- 

 quently induced to nest in nesting boxes in Germany. Mr. A. D. 

 Henderson tells me that he has tried the experiment successfully near 

 Belvedere, Alberta. 



The down in the goldeneye's nest is large, light and fluffy; it is 

 practically pure white in color. The breast feathers in it are pure 

 white. 



Eggs. — The goldeneye ordinarily lays from 8 to 12 eggs; 5 or 6 

 eggs sometimes complete the set; I have found as many as 15 and 



