454 Barrow's Golden Eye. 



has the white and black markhigs of the adult male. The rest 

 of the back is like the female, but darker. 



The following are the respective measurements of the two 

 species, which will serve more readily to give an idea of their 

 relative size. 



Length. Str'ch ofio'ff. Wincf. Weight. 



20.00. 31.50. 9.75. lb. 2 oz. 6^. 



19.00. 30.00. 9.00. " 2 " 5. 

 jne. $ do. 20.00. 9.50. ^ 



19.00. 9.00. 



16.00. 8.50. 



Thus has one more species of the family of the Ducks been 

 found to frequent our shores, as a visitor at least, although lam 

 strongly inclined to believe that it always has been accustomed 

 to enter the United States during the winter, in small flocks 

 probably, and has hitherto escaped the notice of ornithologists. 

 It would, I think, be most likely to follow the course of the 

 Mississippi river, and consequently, although perhaps often 

 killed there, would, from the great distance intervening, be but 

 seldom sent to the markets of our sea-board. 



I am, at all events, satisfied that the examples before me are 

 not the first which have been exposed for sale in this city, for 

 Mr. Bell's assistant was particularly impressed with the pecu- 

 liar appearance of the young male, which I have before men- 

 tioned, and although he did not know the B. Islandica., yet he 

 was too well conversant with our common species to make any 

 mistake in the matter, and it was by his keeping a sharp watch, 

 after my describing to him the difference in the species, that he 

 discovered the present specimens. 



Doubtless many rare and curious birds are brought to the 

 markets of this city, which never meet the eye of the Ornitho- 

 logist at all, his procuring anything unusual being only the 

 exception, and consequently it behoves everyone who takes an 

 interest in this delightful study, never to omit examining 

 any number of wild birds which he may meet exposed for 

 sale at any of the markets he may have occasion to visit. 



