'GOLDEN -EYE. 1 75 



ish-green in color and are said to be from six to eight. 

 Concerning the breeding habits of this species, the 

 veteran naturahst, Mr. Geo. A. Boardman, said in 

 Forest and Stream: 



"Fifty years ago we used to have six different tree 

 ducks breeding on our river : Barrow's golden-eye and 

 the buffle-head {albeola) rare, but the common golden- 

 eye, the American merganser, hooded merganser and 

 wood duck abundant. About fifty years ago pickerel 

 were put into our waters, which soon put an end to most 

 of our wild ducks breeding, as the pickerel ate up all the 

 chick ducks except in the few lakes or ponds that were 

 free from pickerel. Near to Calais are several ponds 

 and lakes that are free from those fish, and the tree 

 ducks bring their young to those lakes for safety. 



"I was at the Kendrick Lake, and a lad that lived near 

 by was with me. A duck (whistler) came flying low 

 toward us, when the lad threw up his hat with a shout, 

 when the old duck dropped a young one that fell near 

 us that was at least ten days old. The old one went for 

 it so quickly I almost lost it, but I got it and put it in my 

 pocket for a specimen. We were near the lake, and the 

 old duck also, when we saw she had four others in the 

 water. The boy said if we keep quiet she will go away 

 and bring others, or if she is afraid of us very much she 

 will take those across the lake or to the other lake. 

 They were getting near to some water grass, when the 

 old duck made a flutter, caught one and went across the 

 lake ; it was hardly two minutes before she returned and 

 took another. 



