2IO 



NEW YORK STATE MUSUEM 



back toward the tail. The duck, when startled or lost, calls out a sharp 

 cur-r-rcw. 



Its nest is placed in a hollow tree or stump and the eggs are from 5 to 1 2 

 in nuinber of a pale, glossy greenish, measuring about 2.35 by 1.7 inches. 

 The downy young have the upper parts, as well as a band across the breast 

 and the sides and thighs, dark sooty brown, marked with several white 

 spots; chin, throat, and cheeks pure white; belly grayish white. 



Clangula islandica (Gmelin) 



Barrow Goldcn-eyc 



Anas islandica Gmelin. Syst. Nat. 1788. i : 541 



G 1 a u c i o n c t t a i s 1 a n d i c a" A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 2. 1895. No. 152 



islan'Jica, of island or Iceland 



Distinctive marks. This species may be recognized by the crcsccntic, 

 or wedge-shaped patch in front of the eye ; by the color of the head, which 



is blue black, glossed with pur- 

 plish instead of greenish black 

 as in the preceding species ; by 

 the lengthening of the crest 

 feathers on the crown and occi- 

 put, which is noticeably greater 

 than in the preceding ; and by 

 the shape of the hill which is 

 relatively shorter and deeper in 

 the present species. The white 

 wing patch is also divided by 

 a black band and the white 

 crescent on the lores comes directly in contact with the base of the bill. 

 Females are difficult to recognize, the general coloration of the two species 

 being the same. Islandica, however, has the white wing patch crossed 

 by a black band formed by the black tips of the greater wing coverts, and the 

 bill is relatively shorter and higher at the base; the distance from the anterior 

 margin of the nostril to the tip of the bill is .66 inches in i s 1 a n d i c a and 



Bill of Barrow golden-eye, 

 \ nat. size- 



Bill of American golden-eye. 

 -J nat. size 



