BARROW'S GOLDEi\-F.YE. 91 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND ECGS. 

 IMests. placed in holes of trees, composed of gras?;, -weeds, feathers, etc. Eyys, six to ten in number, spherical in 

 form, and ashy-green in color. Dimensions from l-75x2'35 to l'80x2'40. 



HABITS. 



The Golden-eyes come to us late iu autumn, remaining through the winter. They 

 frequent the mouths of rivers wliich empty into the ocean, flying in to feed at low tide, 

 then at high water, retreating into the bays, where, excepting during very severe storms, 

 they pass the night. During winter, when the rivers are nearly always frozen over, these 

 Ducks resort to the rifts, made in the ice by the eddying tide where the water is open. 

 They are always shy birds, rising at the slightest indication of danger and flying out to 

 sea, making as they go, a whistling noise with their wings, which is distinctly audible some 

 distance, and which has given them the name of Whistle Wings among sportsmen. The 

 Golden-eyed Ducks breed in Northern New England, nesting in holes of trees which stand 

 along the borders of lakes and river.s. 



BUCEPHALA ISLANDICA. 



Barrow's Golden-eye. 



Bucephala Islandica B.vird, Birds N. A., 1858, 796. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Larynx, dilated in center, where it is capable of exten.-ion and contraction. 

 Bill, short. CoLOK. Adult male. Head and upper necii all around, and upper parts, black glossed witli violet. Triangu- 

 lar patch at base of uppermandible, line through wing, interrupted byablack band, lower neck, and under portion, white. 

 Feathers of sides, tipped with black. Scapularies, rounded at tip, with a pointed projection on one or both sides, and a 

 triangular spot on rounded tip is white. Asillaries, under wing coverts, and tibia, bi-own. Iris, orange, bill, black, and 

 feet, yellow. Adult female. Brown above and on sides, darkest on head: white below. Otherwise similar to adult male. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known by the triangular patch at base of short bill and peculiar truncated scapularies. Distributed, in summer, in 

 the far North ; wintering from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to New York. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens. Length, STSO; stretch, :J1'50; wing, 9'UO; tail, 375; bill, 1'45; Uarsus, 1'50. 

 Longest specimen, 22 00; greatest extent of wing, 33-00; longest wing, 9'60; tail, 4'00; bill, 1'50; tarsus, 1-CO. Sliortest 

 specimen, 21-00; smallest extent of wing, 30-00; shortest wing, 8-50; tail, 350; bill, 1-40; tarsus, I'iO. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed in holes of trees, composed of sticks, weeds, feathere, etc. Er/i/s, from si.t to ten in number, elliptical in 

 form, ashy-green in color. Dimensions from r70x2-4() to 1-75x2-45. 



HABITS. 



Barrow's Golden-eye is an extremely rare bird on the coast; so rare, in fact, that I 

 never met with a living specimen, but some are usually taken every season, for a few find 

 their way into the Boston markets. Judging from published accounts, this species does 

 not differ in habits from the preceding Duck. 



BUCEPHALA AXBEOLA. 



Buffle-head. 



Bucephala alkola Bd., Birds N. A. 1858, 797. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, i=mall. Color. Adult male. Head, upper neck nnd upper portions, black, becoming 

 hoary on upper tail coverts, and glossed with green and violet on the two first, Triangular patch back of eye, broad lino 

 through wing, and under parts, white. Iris, brown, bill, black, feet, yellow. Adult female. Smoky brown above, becom- 

 ing white below. There is a white patch on side of head and another small one on wing. Youni/. Similar to nduUfeimde 

 but the white markings of the males are more extended. 



