Descriptive List 79 



58. Clangula islandica {Gmel.). Barrow's Golden-eye. 



Description. — Male with Iipad .and upper neck glossy purpUsh black, with a large vertical 

 crescent-shaped patch of white across lores; a black band crossing white wing patch; female 

 very similar to Golden-eye, distinguished by the character given in the key, and by the bill 

 being comparatively shorter and having a broader nail, these last distinctions applying to both 

 sexes. Size about same as the pieceding species. 



Range. — Northern North America, breeding from IceLand to Quebec and Colorado, winter- 

 ing from the St. Lawrence to California and New England. 



Range in North Carolina. — Has been attributed to Buncombe and Craven counties, in the 

 latter case apparently erroneously. 



This bird is more northern and western in its distribution than the preceding 

 species. In habits and general appearance the two are very similar. Four have 

 been recorded from North Carolina, but the identifications were incorrect in three 

 of these cases. The two specimens in the State Museum mentioned by Smithwick 

 (Catalogue of N. C. Birds) arc really adult male americana. The specimen taken 

 by Cairns in February, 189.3 (see C. S. Brimlcy, The Auk, July, 1893, pp. 241-2), 

 is in the collection of William Brew.ster, who informs us that it is a male americana 

 assuming the adult plumage. The specimen in the State Museum mentioned by 

 C. S. Brimley {loco citato) is one of the two mentioned by Smithwick, and is 

 a7nericana. 



The one record, therefore, is that of a male which Cairns reported that he took 

 in Buncombe County on May 6, 1893. This specimen has not lieen located 



Fig. 49. BrFFLEHEAD (ndult male). 



Genus Charitonetta (Stejn.) 

 59. Charitonetta albeola (Linn.). Bufflehead. 



Description.— -MtCle black and white, the head very puffy and beautifully iridescent black, 

 with no white in front of eye, but a large white patch back of eye. Lower neck, underparts, 

 wing-coverts, secondaries and outer scapulars, white; rest of upperparts black. Female duller, 

 with the black replaced by grayish brown. L., 12.25-1.5.25; W., 6.00-7.00. 



Range. — North America, breeding mainly north of the United States, wintering from New 

 Brunswick to Florida and Mexico. 



Range in North Carolina. — Coastal region in winter, occasionally inland. 



