22 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vii. 



in the hope of obtaining the rarer species. Another striking 

 contrast is the unbroken bar of white on the wing of the 

 Common, which is broken in the two specimens of Barrow's. 



However it is hard to say, unless a number of specimens 

 can be examined, to what extent these markings vary, and 

 I must point out there are great differences in the two birds 

 obtained by Mr. Bristow. In one of them there is far more 

 white at the base of the neck than in the other, but it will 

 be noticed that in the Common Goldeneye the white from 

 the breast extends beyond the wing, whereas in the two 

 specimens of Barrow's Goldeneye it does not reach beyond. 



Regarding the " boss " on the forehead, this was remarkably 

 well developed in the two specimens I examined, and the 

 scapular-feathers had the black portion of the rami elongated. 

 But of course these last two facts could not be ascertained 

 without being able to handle the birds. 



H. W. Ford -Lindsay. 

 [There is no doubt that the birds are examples of Barrow's 

 Goldeneye, the adult males of which are perfectly easy to 

 distinguish, and could never be overlooked by anyone who 

 knew the Common Goldeneye. The article referred to by 

 Mr. Ford-Lindsay was written for the purpose of sho^^'ing 

 differences in the young males and females of the two species. 

 We think that confirmatory records should be awaited before 

 the species is fully admitted to the British List. — ^Eds.] 



THE DIVE OF THE LONG-TAILED DUCK. 



Whether the Long-tailed Duck {Clangula hyemalis) uses its 

 feet only under water, as is stated to be Mr. Millais's view 

 in the review of his book in the last issue of British Birds, 

 or whether it uses its wings as well, as stated by Dr. C. W. 

 TowTisend, I cannot definitely say, but it may be worth 

 noting that I have several times observed Long-tailed Ducks, 

 when under great stress, emerge from the water aiter a dive 

 with their wings spread and take to instant flight. But 

 I have only seen old males do this, and only when they have 

 miscalculated the speed and airection of a sailing boat, and 

 in such cases the first bird to arrive on the surface has been 

 in a normal attitude with wings closed, but some of those 

 following have risen from the water straight from their dive 

 with wings open and in full flight. H. W. Robinson. 



[It does not appear from Dr. To^^Tlsend's description that 

 he had actually seen the wings used under water, and it would 

 seem that he drew his conclusions from the attitudes of the 

 duck at the moment it dived and when it emerged. — H.F.W.] 



