T48 



British Birds. 



THE 



GOLDEN-EYED 



DUCK. 



(Clangula clangula. 



are from six to nine in number, but as many as twelve have been found ; they 

 are of a pale greenish-grey or stone-colour, and measure about two-and-a-half 

 inches in length. 



The Golden-eye is an unmistakable species, easily told by 

 its black and white coloration, the white scapulars being a 

 strongly marked feature, as also are the white wing speculum, 

 the orange-yellow feet, and golden-yellow iris. The female may 

 be recognised by its white speculum, and by its brown axillaries. 

 It is a winter visitor to the British Islands, and has even been said to nest in 

 Scotland, but this lias not yet been confirmed. It breeds in the high north 

 of Europe and Asia, as far south as Holstein and Eastern Prussia ; it likewise 

 occurs throughout North America. In winter it visits China, North-western India, 

 and the Mediterranean countries, and is also found as far south as Mexico and 

 the West Indies. 



The Golden-eye is a wonderful diver, and feeds on water-plants, insects, shell-fish, 

 and even on frogs and small fish. The nest is in the hole of a tree, sometimes at 

 a height of twelve or fifteen feet from the ground, and consists merely of the 



greyish-white down of the bird. The eggs 

 are from ten to thirteen in number, of a 

 greyish-green tint, fading to dull green or 

 olive-green. 



The Buffel-head has 

 the nostrils situated 

 nearer to the base of 

 the bill than in the 

 Golden-eyes, and the 

 style of plumage is different from that 

 of the latter birds. The male has the 

 feathering of the head very much de- 

 veloped, and the sides of the face are 

 shot with green and steel-blue, while there 

 is a good deal of purple on the crown of 

 the head. The iris is dark brown. The 

 female is much duller than the male in 

 colour, and has a broad white patch from 

 the ear-coverts to the sides of the neck. 



The present species has occurred three times in England, and twice in Scotland, 

 but its home is in North America, from Labrador to Alaska, whence it migrates 

 south in winter. In habits it resembles the Golden-eye, and, like tiiat species, nests 

 in the hole of a tree. The eggs also resemble those of the Golden-eye, and are 

 from six to ten in number. 



THE BUFFEL- 



HEADED DUCK. 



(Charitoncttn 



nlbt'oln.) 



The BuFFEL-HEADEn DCCK. 



