A XI) NEIGHBOURHOOD. 197 



where, however, I fear that the supply of freshwater 

 molluscs must, if not entirely exhausted, be very 

 scanty, owing to the number of diving-fowl that we 

 keep in a comparatively limited area. A male Golden- 

 Eye was, during the whole of one summer, the 

 absolute master of all the diving-birds on this pond. 

 What he did beneath the water we were unable to 

 see, but from the abrupt emergence of the other 

 divers Avhen he had " gone below," and the manner 

 that he " went for them " with lowered head imme- 

 diately on reaching the surface, I have no doubt that 

 he made himself exceedingly unpleasant ; the only 

 birds that seemed to be able to get out of his way 

 and took little notice of his " cussedness " were the 

 Smews. There is no authentic record of the nesting 

 of this species in the British Islands, either in a wild 

 or semi-domestic state ; it breeds commonly in 

 various parts of Northern Europe, making its nest 

 in the holes of trees, or, as we are told by travellers, 

 in boxes or hollowed logs placed by the natives for 

 the purpose of easily obtaining the eggs. The eggs 

 are said to vary in number from ten or twelve to as 

 many as nineteen, the latter number being excep- 

 tional ; they are very large for the size of the bird, 

 and when fresh, of a more brilliant green than is 

 usual amongst Ducks' eggs. The difference of the 

 plumage of the adult males from that of the females 

 and young of the Golden-Eye, as well as the very 

 remarkable difference in size and weight of individuals 

 of both sexes inter fc, caused some naturalists to 

 consider that two distinct species were included 

 under one name, and I know that this opinion is 

 still maintained by certain experienced sportsmen 

 and professional gunners, who distinguish the 



