THE AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 790 
Recognition Marks.—Between Mallard and Teal size; short occipital crest ; 
chestnut collar; white chin; transverse white bar on breast and wavy-barred sides 
of male serve to distinguish this bird from the other “Blackheads,” which it super- 
ficially resembles. Peculiar yellowish brown of sides distinctive for female. 
Nesting.—Not known to breed in Washington. Nest: on the ground in 
grassy marshes or lakeside swamps. Eggs: 6-12, indistinguishable in color from 
those of preceding species. Av. size, 2.25 x 1.60 (57.2 x 40.0). 
General Range.—North America, breeding far north and migrating south to 
Guatemala and the West Indies. 
Range in Washington.—Rather rare migrant on Puget Sound. 
Authorities.—| Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. (1814) Ed. Biddle: Coues. Vol. 
II. p. 195.] Fulix collaris, Baird, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, p. 793. 
TS 1B. IE(UBD). 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) Prov. C. 
THIS elegant species bears a general resemblance to the Lesser Scaup, 
but is nowhere so common unless it be in Minnesota, the center of its breeding 
range. Unlike the Scaup, it is never seen in large flocks, seldom in companies 
of above a dozen or twenty individuals, and single birds are more frequently 
encountered than in the case of any other species. The vird shuns the open 
water, so much frequented by Blue-bills, and is seldom or never seen on salt 
water, not even on the tide-water marshes. In flight the individuals of a flock 
scatter widely, and they are likely to become still further separated as they 
feed in the rushes and deeper growth of the swamps and interior lakes. Here 
they subsist upon crayfish, snails, frogs, insects, and the various sorts of seeds 
which drop into the water from overhanging vegetation. 
When surprised the Ringneck rises upon softly whistling wings, and beats 
a rapid retreat, while you notice the loose occipital feathers, ruffled by fear 
into a bushy crest, and observe that there is no white on the head, to cause 
confusion with other crested species. 
No. 321. 
AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. | 
WA. O. U. No. 151. Clangula clangula americana (Bonap.). 
Synonyms.—GOoLDEN-EYE. \WuIstLER. GARROT. 
Description.—Adult male: Head and upper neck black, with a greenish 
gloss above and on sides; a circular white spot at base of upper mandible on side, 
but not reaching upper angle of bill; lower neck all around, underparts, the mid- 
dle and greater wing coverts, the inner secondaries, and outer scapulars, centrally, 
pure white; remaining upperparts black, the white scapulars being black-bordered, 
and the feathers of sides similarly black-bordered along upper margin of the 
