608 THE AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 
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. 298. 
AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 
vy A. O. U. No. 151. Clangula clangula americana (Bonap.). 
Synonyms.—GoLDEN-EYE; WHISTLER; 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, under parts, the mid- 
dle and greater wing coverts, the inner secondaries, and outer scapulars, centrally, 
pure white ; remaining upper parts black, the white scapulars being black-bordered, 
and the feathers of sides similarly black-bordered along upper margin of the 
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 
giay, 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. ae depth of upper mandible from frontal angle to 
tomia .92 (23.4); from anterior margin of white spot to anterior angle of nostril 
.O5 (24.1); from anterior angle of nostril to tip of bill 80 (20.3); tarsus 1.50 
(Ge). Female length about 16.50 (419.1). Other dimensions proportionately 
smaller. 
Recognition Marks.— Mallard size; black and white coloration ; rownd white 
spot at base of bill on side; bright yellow eyes. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, in hollow of decayed tree or 
stub, lined with grass, feathers, etc. Eggs, 6-10, dull greenish or pale bluish. 
INE SVASy AAS, ae 170) (GO) ax 718) ))- 
General Range.—North America, breeding from Maine and the British Pro- 
vinces northward; in winter south to Cuba and Mexico. 
Range in Ohio.—Not common migrant. Sparingly resident in winter in open 
streams of southern portion. 
OF all wing-music, from the drowsy hum of the Ruby-throat 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 
