NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



gloss is chiefly purple and violet. The bill is black or greenish-dusky 

 and the iris golden-yellow. In the female the head is snuff-brown and no 

 white patch in front of the eye. This bird makes its nest in hollow trees, 

 of grass, sticks and weeds, lined v.'ith feathers. Rocky Mountain Garrot 

 is another name. 



620. American Golden-eye — clangula glaucium Americana. Ashy- 

 green ; rounded-oval; eight to ten in number; size from 2. 25 to 2.55 long by 

 1,70 to 1.78 broad. The Golden-eye, Whistler or Garrot inhabits North 

 America at large, breeding from Maine and the British Provinces north- 

 ward. It is very similar to the last, but has a large round white spot be- 

 fore the eye, not touching the base of the bill throughout. The nest is 

 built in hollow trees and decayed trunks. It is made of grass, leaves and 

 moss, lined with down from the bird's breast. 



Hab. North America, breeding from Maine and the British Provinces northward; in winter, south to 



621. Butterball; Bufflehead — clangula albeola. Varying from buff 

 to a creamy-white or grayish-olive; ellipsoidal in form; the number of 

 eggs range from six to fourteen; size about 2.00 by 1.50. The Butterball 

 or Dipper inhabits the whole of North America. It is an abundant spring 

 and fall migrant in the United States, and also winter resident. Breeds 

 from Maine northward through the Fur Countries and Alaska. The male 

 is one of the handsomest little ducks to be found anywhere. The head is 

 particularly puffy, of varied rich iridescence, with a large showy white 

 patch on each side behind the eye. The broad black and white pattern 

 of his upper coat stands out in strong contrast against a glossy white 

 breast. The female is smaller and a very insignificant-looking duck; the 

 head is scarcely puffy, dark gray with traces of the white auricular patch. 

 This Duck dives with the greatest of ease, slipping under water almost 

 as quickly as a Grebe. The ease with which it disappears beneath the 

 surface has gained for it the elegant name " Hell-diver." The nest of the 

 Butterball is made in hollow trees, of grass, etc., warmly lined with 

 feathers. 



Hab. North America; south in winter to Cuba and Mexico. Breeds from Maine northward through the 

 Fur Countries. 



622. Harlequin Duck — histrionicus minutus. Greenish-yellow; six 

 to eight in number; size about 2. 10 by 1.60. This beautiful but singularly 

 marked duck inhabits Northern North America, breeding from Newfound- 

 land, the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada northward. 

 In winter it is found as far south as the Middle States and California. The 

 male Harlequin is second only to the Wood Duck in beauty, and the 

 female will bear no comparison to the same sex of that species. The male's 



