BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 137 



58 [150] Aythya collaris (Donov.). 

 Ring-necked Duck. 



Very rare transient visitor. 



I have only one record for this bird from Essex County : one shot by Mr. 

 C. E. Brown, in 1899, near Beaver Pond, Beverly, and now preserved in the 

 collection of the Peabody Academy, at Salem. It is a bird that rarely approaches 

 the coast. 



59 [151] Clangula clangula americana (Bonap.). 

 American Golden-eye ; Whistler. 



Abundant winter visitor ; October 8 to May 1 . 



This bird is universally called Whistler in Essex County. 



As the Black Ducks go out of the creeks in the salt marshes in the morn- 

 ing, the Whistlers come in, for they are day feeders. Many of them, however, 

 spend the days also on the ocean. About sunset, or just after, they leave the 

 marshes, where sleep in the narrow tidal estuaries would be unsafe, and repair to 

 the broad ocean, where they can float about undisturbed. I suppose all sea 

 birds when sleeping on the ocean point towards the wind and keep in the same 

 place by automatically paddling, as I have seen the Grebes and Black Ducks do 

 while asleep. Whistlers often visit the ponds during the migrations. Dr. 

 Phillips records from nine to nineteen birds of this species shot at Wenham 

 Lake every year from his stand. 



Whistlers are powerful flyers and fully justify their common name, for 

 the loud whistling of their wings as they fly can be heard at a great distance, 

 and is often the first thing to call our attention. Their wings vibrate very rap- 

 idly, and they are apt to fly high, not keeping close to the water as do the 

 Scoters. In diving, they appear to keep their wings pressed closely to their 

 sides, and sometimes leap forward vigorously. Whether they open and use their 

 wings under water after the manner of the Alcidm, the Scoters, and Old Squaws, 

 I have not been able to determine. They have a common habit of stretching 

 the neck and head up straight in the air, and opening the mouth. They also 

 turn over on their backs occasionally, like all water birds, to preen the feathers 

 of their breasts and abdomens. They are extremely shy and rarely come in 

 well to wooden decoys. 



