Haljits op the Old-Squaw 121 



ring- Avitli the Goldeneyes February 17, 11)14, cited under 

 ''Social Life." This bird in leaving its companions for the 

 piers to feed, on its way called a few times at fairly definite 

 intervals, a subdued call of two notes, best described, perhaps, 

 as 0-0 nc. The significance of this brief cry could not be 

 determined with certainty. It was noted that the bird in 

 going to its feeding ground was alert, so that this call may 

 have indicated a slight alarm. 



FLIGHT. 



IMrds in flocks are often very active, but single birds are 

 inclined to fly very little if at all. Even Avhen badly fright- 

 ened they will try to escape by diving instead of taking wing. 

 In spring, hoAvever, when they are about to depart for the 

 north, they become more active. The bird seen April 8, 1914, 

 took wing Avheu scared, and another seen March 22, 1914, 

 would sometimes fly from its feeding ground about the piers 

 farther out into the lake, Avhere it rested. But ordinarily 

 single birds will not fly even AA'hen the other ducks Avitli which 

 they are associated take flight. This unwillingness to fly 

 would seem to bear no relation to age, for a bird which could 

 not be induced to take flight under any circumstances was 

 an adult male upon which I made observations from Decem- 

 ber 14 to December 28, 1913 (see Auk 31: 244, 245. 1914). 

 According to Millais, however, j^oung birds will not rise on 

 their first arrival from the north, differing in this respect 

 from the adults. 



BATHING. 



Bathing is not undertaken except after diving for food, 

 and in one instance, where the bird made a single dive, no 

 bathing followed at all. Occasionally after feeding the bird 

 delays bathing in order to preen, but more often preening 

 follows bathing. In cases of prolonged feeding bathing may 

 take place at different intervals, a period of diving being fol- 

 lowed by a period of bathing. Once after a bird had bathed 

 it climbed out on a bit of piling, and on getting oft' bathed 

 again. Bathing very seldom takes place on the feeding 



