OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 407 



Genus CLANQULA, or Golden-eyes. 



Type, CLANGULA GLAUCION. 



Clangllla, of Leach (1819). The birds in the present genus are charac- 

 terised by having the primaries uniform brown or unmirrored with grey. The 

 head is well crested ; the bill strong ; the edges of the upper mandible not bent 

 inwardly ; the nostrils situated in the posterior portion of the anterior half, 

 rather broad, and the tubercle invisible. The outer and middle toes are of equal 

 length ; the tail is rather short, less than twice the length of the metatarsus. 



This genus contains but two species distributed over the northern portions of 

 the Palsearctic and Nearctic regions. One of these is a well-known British 

 species, and the other has been included in our list but on unreliable evidence. 



The Golden-eyes are inhabitants of both fresh water and marine localities. 

 They are more or less migratory. They swim and dive with marvellous skill, 

 but their movements on the land are clumsy and their gait waddling. The are 

 to some extent gregarious during winter and on passage. Their flight is power- 

 ful, and accompanied by a peculiar rushing or whistling noise. Their notes are 

 harsh and unmusical. Their food is chiefly of an animal character, but vegetable 

 substances are also eaten. They are monogamous. They nest in holes of trees, 

 and their numerous eggs are greyish-green in colour. 



