800 THE AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 
region, and on the lower margin of the elongated posterior feathers; lower belly 
mottled with dusky; bill black; feet orange with dusky webs and claws; iris 
orange-yellow. Adult female: Head deep snuff-brown, without white spot; the 
color not reaching so far down on the neck as black of male; remaining black of 
male generally replaced by grayish dusky; sides of breast, chest, and sides more or 
less overlaid, or underlaid, with the same; white of wing interrupted by dusky 
gray, mostly confined to inner secondaries and adjacent tertiaries; bill varied 
with orange. Young male: Like adult female, but darker and with increasing 
indications of loral white spot. Adult male, length 18.00-23.00 (457.2-584.2) ; 
wing 9.20 (233.7); tail 3.50 (88.9); bill along culmen 1.35 (34.3; bill from 
frontal angle to tip 1.90 (48.3); depth of upper mandible from frontal angle to 
tomia .92 (23.4); from anterior margin of white spot to anterior angle of nostril 
.95 (24.1); from anterior angle of nostril to tip of bill 80 (20.3); tarsus 1.50 
(38.1). Female length about 16.50 (419.1). Other dimensions proportionately 
smaller. 
Recognition Marks.—Mallard size; black and white coloration; round white 
spot at base of bill on side; bright yellow eves. 
Nesting.—Nest: in hollow of decayed tree or stub, lined with grass, feathers, 
etc. Eggs: 6-10, dull greenish or pale bluish. Av. size, 2.35 x 1.70 (59.7 X 43-2). 
Season: May 10-June 20; one brood. 
General Range.—North America, breeding from Maine and the British 
Provinces northward; in winter south to Cuba and Mexico. 
Range in Washington.—Common winter resident and migrant, found thru- 
out the State, but especially on salt water; sparingly resident in summer in the 
northern and mountainous counties. 
Authorities —Bucephala americana, Baird, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. 
IX. 1858, p. 796. T. C&S. L4. Rh. D*. Kk. J. B. E. 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) Prov. BN. E. 
OF all wing-music, from the droning of the Rufous Hummer to the start- 
ling whirr of the Ruffed Grouse, I know of none so thrilling sweet as the whist- 
ling wing-note of the Golden-eye. A pair of the birds have been frightened 
from the water, and as they rise in rapid circles to gain a view of some 
distant goal, they sow the air with vibrant whistling sounds. Owing to a 
difference in wing-beats between male and female, the brief moment when the 
wings strike in unison with the effect of a single bird, is followed by an ever- 
changing syncopation which challenges the waiting ear to tell if it does not 
hear a dozen birds instead of only two. Again, in the dim twilight of early 
morning, while the birds are moving from a remote and secure lodging place, 
to feed in some favorite stretch of wild water, one guesses at their early industry 
from the sound of multitudinous wings above, contending with the cold ether. 
The American Golden-eye is of common occurrence in winter both upon 
the interior lakes and rivers, and upon the waters of Puget Sound. The birds 
associate in small flocks, usually of not more than eight or ten individuals, and 
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