WILD FOWL. 101 



less esteemed than that of the preceding. In the United States 

 they are only winter visitors, leaving us again in the month of 

 April, being then on their passage to the North to breed. They 

 are said to build, like the Wood-Duck, in hollow trees. 



" The Golden-Eye is found on both continents, and in the 

 northern j^arts of Europe during winter, and is one of the most 

 common migratory Ducks. The Garrets are distinguished by a 

 short, stout and compact body ; the neck short ; the head large, 

 and apparently more so from its thick plumage ; the bill short, 

 but thick, and raised at the base ; the feet placed far behind, 

 and formed for swimming. The flight is short and rapid. In 

 habit, they delight more in lakes and rivers than the sea ; are 

 generally found in small flocks ; are very clamorous during the 

 breeding season, and feed on fish, aquatic insects, moluscas, &c. 

 Richardson says, Clangula vulgaris and albeola frequent the 

 rivers and fresh water lakes throughout the Fur Countries, in 

 great numbers. They are by no means shy, allowing the sjjorts- 

 man to approach sufficiently near ; but dive so dexterously at 

 the flash of the gun, or the twanging of a bow, and are conse- 

 quently so difficult to kill, that the natives say they ai'e endowed 

 with some supernatural power. Hence their appellation of 

 ' conjuring ' or ' spirit Ducks.' 



" In Brirain, they are winter visitants, assembling in small 

 parties on the lakes and rivers. On the latter, they may be gene- 

 rally found near the head or foot of the stream, diving incessantly 

 for the spawn of salmon, with which I have often found their 

 stomachs filled. The party generally consists of from four to 

 ten, and they dive together. At this time it is not very difficult 

 to approach them, by running forward, while they are under 

 water, and squatting when they rise. I have often, in this way, 

 come to the very edge of the river, and awaited the arising of 

 the flock. When taken by surprise, they dive on the instant of 

 the first shot, but rise and fly immediately after. 



" The young of the first year has been made a nominal spe- 

 cies, and is somewhat like the adult females, but always distin- 

 guished by larger size, darker color of the plumage of the head, 



