GOLDEN-EYE. 321 



At all times of the year the tufted duck is mainly a freshwater 

 species, as it is exclusively during the breeding-season ; and is generally 

 found in small parties on lakes and other pieces of water. In the 

 winter it may, however, be seen in tidal waters and estuaries, or even 

 on the open coast. In Lough Neagh, Ireland, these ducks, together 

 with pochards, are taken while diving by means of nets sunk in fifteen 

 fathoms of water, in the meshes of which they become entangled. 

 Like pochards, they make a loud noise when taking wing by striking 

 their feet on the water ; and when in flight utter a kind of croaking 

 cry. Lakes with plenty of covert on the banks form their favourite 

 resorts ; and their food appears to consist more of animal than of 

 vegetable substances. When on the water, in which they sit high, so 

 that much of the white breasts of the drakes is visible, they are easily 

 recognised by their crests. The nest, which is made of dried grass 

 and sedge, with a copious lining of dark brown down, is generally 

 placed in a tussock of grass not far removed from the water's edge, 

 although it may be situated amid rushes, or even in the grass of 

 pasture-land. In May or June it usually contains half-a-score or a 

 dozen stone-coloured or drab-brown, or even greenish-brown eggs, 

 although the number not unfrequently falls below this and may 

 occasionally reach thirteen. From rather less than 2^ to a little 

 short of 2^ inches represents the limits of variation in the length of 

 the eggs. The down of the tufted duck may be recognised by the 

 small size of its component filaments, each of which is wholly chocolate- 

 brown in colour, with the exception of an indistinct light centre. In 

 length the drake measures from 1 6^ to 17 inches, and weighs from 

 I lb. 10 oz. to I lb. 14 oz. 



Golden-eve '^^^^ golden-eye, designated in some works by the 

 (Clanffula name Clangula dangida, in place of the title here 



fflaueion) employed, is a member of a genus containing two 



other species, and takes its English name from the 

 golden yellow of the eyes, although this is by no means its most dis- 

 tinctive characteristic. From its Latin designation, Clangula^ it might 

 naturally be assumed to be a more noisy bird than its kindred ; but 

 as a matter of fact this is not the case, its cry being very similar to 

 the harsh croak of the tufted duck. Possibly the name refers to its 

 noisy flight. From the pochards and scaup-ducks the golden-eyes are 

 distinguished by having sixteen tail-feathers, by the base of the upper 

 half of the beak being higher than wide, and by the stiffening of the 

 tail-feathers which are long and rounded at the tips. Other distinctive 



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