802 THE BUFFLEHEAD, 
or open-wing-shaped white spot at base of bill on side; head with purplish gloss. 
Female like preceding,—distinguishable with certainty only by blackish tips of 
greater coverts. 
Nesting.—Nest and Eggs like those of preceding species. Av. of eggs, 
2.47% 1.77 (62.7% 45). Season: c. June ist; one brood. 
General Range.—Northern North America; south in winter to New York, 
Illinois, Utah, and San Francisco Bay; breeding in the mountains from Oregon 
and Colorado northward. Greenland; Iceland; casual in western Europe. 
Range in Washington.—Not uncommon spring and fall migrant; common 
resident in winter on bays and inlets of Puget Sound, Gray’s Harbor, etc.; spar- 
ingly resident in summer in the mountains. 
Authorities.—Glaucionetta islandica, Lawrence (R: H.), Auk, Vol. IX. 
Jan. 1892, p. 42. L'. Rh. D'. E. 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) Prov. BN. 
WHILE this species is much more common than the preceding thruout the 
State, its habits are very little known save in winter, and there is little to dif- 
ferentiate it to common observation from its better-known but no more truly 
“American” kinsman, C. c. americana. A flock which had discovered that im- 
munity was to be had along the shore of the Navy Yard at Bremerton, once al- 
lowed a close approach very gratifying to the bird-man. Their presence also 
seemed peculiarly fitting at this spot, for they sat the water like men-of-war 
themselves, and the mind confessed the same desire to follow their many 
cruisings. 
Golden-eye breeds in the mountains of Washington, just as it does in 
Colorado and California, but knowledge of the precise location of a nest has 
never been the good fortune of any student in the Pacific Northwest. 
No. 323. 
BUFFLEHEAD. 
Vk. ©. U. No. 153. Charitonetta albeola ( Linn.) 
Synonyms.—BuTter-BaLL. Spirit Duck. 
Description.—Adu/t male: Feathers of head puffy, somewhat lengthened 
along crest and nape; head and upper neck black, sooty below, with brilliant 
violet, purple, steel-blue, and bronze-green metallic reflections; a broad white 
space from eye to eye around occiput; back, inner scapulars and tertiaries with 
touches on coverts and some narrow bordering on the outer scapulars and up- 
turned side-feathers glossy black; upper tail-coverts and tail ashy gray; remaining 
plumage, including a broad collar around neck, white; belly silky or washed with 
pale gray; bill dull bluish with dusky nail and base; feet flesh color, with black 
claws; iris brown. Adult female: Head and neck mouse-brown, darker on crown, 
lighter on throat; a dull white patch below and behind eye; speculum narrowly 
