Duck-shooting 143 



much to themselves ; but sometimes they associate 

 with the lesser broadbill, whose habits they much 

 resemble. The ring-neck is a strong flyer, rising 

 easily and quickly from the water, the flight hav- 

 ing the wavy appearance of the broadbill. They 

 come readily to decoys, but are a dif^cult mark, 

 and when wounded readily escape by diving, 

 swimming well under water, showing just the 

 head when coming to the surface. A low, guttural 

 note is heard at times, but the birds are usually 

 quiet. The flesh is excellent. Other names for 

 this species are tufted duck, ring-bill bastard, 

 ring-bill black-head, ring-neck scaup, ring-bill 

 shaffer. 



AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE 



f {f 



{Clangula clangiila amerkana) 



Adult 7nale — Head, occipital crest, and upper part of neck, glossy 

 green with sometimes violet reflections ; a large, oval, white spot 

 close to the base of bill on each side ; lower part of neck, upper 

 part of back, greater wing-coverts, and under parts, pure white ; 

 rest of upper parts, long scapulars, and some secondaries, black ; 

 tail, ashy ; bill, black ; feet, yellowish ; webs, dusky ; iris, yellow. 



Measnrevients — Length, 20 inches; wing, 8.85 inches; tail, 4.50 

 inches; tarsus, 1.50 inches; culmen, 1.60 inches. 



Adult female — Head and upper part of neck, brown; a slight oc- 

 cipital crest ; a narrow collar on neck of white, streaked with 

 gray ; back, dark brown ; feathers on upper back, edged with 

 gray ; those of upper tail-coverts, tipped with pale brown ; 

 white on wings not so extensive as those on male ; tips of greater 

 wing-coverts, black, forming a bar across the white ; a band of 

 bluish gray across upper part of breast ; under parts, white ; 

 thighs, dusky ; tail, brown ; bill, dull yellow, varied with brown ; 

 iris, light yellow ; legs and feet, yellowish ; webs, dusky. 



