176 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



the spotted instead of striped scapulars, and the black wing bar. 

 Females are even more difficult to distinguish, as the general color- 

 ation of the two species is the same. The Barrow Golden-eye, how- 

 ever, has the white wing patch crossed by a blackish band formed 

 by the dark tips of the greater wing coverts, the head is darker brown, 

 the white collar narrower, the gray band across breast darker, and 

 the bill usually shows a yellowish bar near the tip. The bill is rela- 

 tively shorter and higher at the base and distinctly narrower towards 

 the tip; the "nail" is larger and more hooked at tip. 



Although never found nesting in California, the Barrow Golden- 

 eye has been found to breed at Pauline and Diamond lakes, Crook 

 and Douglas counties, Oregon (Cooke, 1906, p. 51). It is possible, 

 therefore, that this species may breed about the higher mountain 

 lakes of northern California. Carter {in Brewer, ]879, p. 150), who 

 first discovered a nest of this species in Colorado, states that this, like 

 the American Golden-eye, nests in hollow trees and that it is surpris- 

 ing to see to what small cavities, in some instances, they can accom- 

 modate themselves. 



Brewer (1879, pp. 151-152) states that in Iceland the nest of the 

 Barrow Golden-eye cannot be mistaken for that of any other duck, 

 because of the pure white down with which the nest is lined. The 

 female sits so closely that she can usually be captured upon the nest. 

 The eggs, from nine to twelve in number, resemble those of the 

 American Golden-eye but are slightly larger. 



Brooks (1903, p. 279) has found this a rather scarce breeding duck 

 in British Columbia in the neighborhood of 158-Mile House, but more 

 common in La Hache Valley. "One set of eggs was taken from a 

 hole in a dead Douglas fir, fifty feet from the ground, probably the 

 deserted nest of a flying squirrel. The tree stood about four hundred 

 yards from the nearest water. The eggs (seven) at this date (17th 

 June) contained large embryos." From another nesting hole which 

 Brooks was unable to reach, a female brought out fourteen young. 



Holboll {in Brewer, 1879, p. 151) says that the Barrow Golden- 

 eye is the most wary of all water-fowl and that it is with the greatest 

 difficulty that one can approach even within gunshot of it. Collectors 

 have had to station themselves in places where this bird feeds on 

 moonlight nights in order to obtain specimens. In general habits it 

 resembles the American Golden-eye but is said to be a less expert 

 diver. 



As a game duck the Barrow Golden-eye must be considered along 

 with the American Golden-eye ; its extreme rarity in California makes 

 it of even less importance. The one or two records of its occurrence 

 in the markets of San Francisco are so exceptional as to have merited 

 particular comment. In fact, its classification in California as a game 

 species is hardly more than technical. 



