366 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



agement of incubation ; the males, at this time, seem 

 to leave them and associate by themselves in com 

 panies. 



Another interesting specimen of the duck is the 

 Golden Eye (Fuligula C languid.) The Golden Eye* 

 is a common inhabitant of the boreal regions of both 

 continents, from whence it migrates in small flocks at 

 the approach of winter, accompanying the velvet, 

 surf duck, and scoter, in their desultory route in 

 quest of subsistence. On their way, soon after the 

 commencement of their adventurous voyage, they 

 visit the shores of Hudson Bay, and their congenial 

 lakes in the interior, on which they linger, feeding on 

 tender and small shell-fish, until debarred by the in 

 vasion of frost. They breed in all parts of the deso 

 late and remote fur countries in great numbers, 

 frequenting the rivers and fresh-water lakes, on whose 

 borders they pass the period of reproduction, making 

 a rude nest of grass, and protecting the necessary 

 warmth of their eggs by a layer of feathers or down 

 plucked from the breast. According to Linnaeus it 

 lays from seven to ten white eggs, which it often con 

 ceals and protects with its nest in hollow trees. And 

 Skioldebrand adds, that in common with the velvet 

 duck, it breeds abundantly in Lapland, on the banks 

 of the Tornea, within the Arctic circle, and nearly to 

 the northern extremity of Europe. The inhabitants, 

 for the value of the eggs, take the trouble to accom 

 modate these useful and almost domestic birds, by 

 attaching hollowed pieces of wood to the stunted 

 pine trees in which they ordinarily breed. They 

 extend their summer residence as far as Northern 



* Nuttall. 



