452 GOLDEN-EYE. 



suitable for occupation ; while it breeds regularly down to about lat. 

 58° in Russia ; and sparingly, it is said, in Holstein, Mark Branden- 

 burg and East Prussia. Drs. Fatio and Studer assert that it has 

 nested on the Lake of Wallenstadt and in other parts of Switzerland, 

 to the waters of which it is certainly a regular visitor. Southward it 

 is found in cold weather over the rest of Europe, but only severe 

 winters drive it to the western portion of the Mediterranean or to 

 North Africa, though it is not infrequent in Greece, the Black Sea, 

 and the Caspian district. Throughout Siberia it remains up to 67"^ N. 

 as long as it can find open water, and it also inhabits the lakes of 

 the Pamirs, Kashgaria and Mongolia; while on migration it visits 

 Japan, China, and, occasionally, Upper India. In North America 

 a larger form, identical in plumage, is found. 



When in a hollow tree or a hole previously tenanted by a Black 

 Woodpecker, the nest often has an opening so small that a man's 

 hand can with difficulty be inserted ; but to obtain the eggs the 

 Lapps and Finns place boxes or hollowed logs in convenient situa- 

 tions, especially in the neighbourhood of falls and rapids, to which 

 this bird seems partial. The eggs, usually 10-12 in number, are 

 bright green, though the colour soon fades: measurements 2 "4 by 

 I '6 in. The food, obtained by diving, consists of crustaceans and 

 molluscs, as well as sea- "grass", which is brought to the surface 

 and eaten. The Golden-eye rises from the water with great 

 rapidity, and, from the noise produced during its flight, is often 

 known by the names of "Rattle-wing" and "Whistler." In the 

 wild state hybrids between this and several species, including the 

 Smew and the Hooded Merganser, have been obtained. 



The adult male has the head and upper neck glossy greenish-black, 

 the feathers on the crown being slightly elongated ; a conspicuous 

 oval white patch under each eye; chin, throat, and back black; 

 lower neck, elongated scapulars, large wing-patch and under parts 

 white ; thighs dark brown ; legs and toes yellow with blackish webs ; 

 bill bluish-black ; irides golden-yellow. In summer a plumage 

 similar to that of the female is assumed, but a little white remains 

 at the base of the bill, and a good deal on the wing. Length 18-5 in. ; 

 wing 8*25 in. In females and young males there is no white spot 

 between the eye and the bill ; the head is umber brown, nearly 

 separated by a paler collar from the greyish neck, gorget and 

 shoulders ; the wing-coverts are tipped with black, so that the white 

 wing-patch is divided into three portions; the back and flanks are 

 dark brown, and the belly is white. 



