BARROW'S GOLDEN-YE 



271 



centration of nests will be found on the shores of lakes which are strongly 

 alkaline, no doubt because such waters are rich in crustaceans to which 

 these ducks are particularly partial. The nests are at times in holes as 

 high as 50 feet above the ground. In Iceland, where this species also 

 breeds, the nests will, on account of the scarcity of trees, be found in 

 cavities in cliffs or in the walls of peat shelters built for sheep. The eggs 

 are practically indistinguishable from those of the American Golden-eye; 

 they are of trie same greenish colour, but are slightly larger and average 

 2.41 by 1.73 inches. Incubation is performed by the female alone and 

 she is a very close sitter having, at times, to be removed by force if one 

 wants to see the eggs. From their nests high above the ground the young 

 reach the water in the same manner as that described in the "Life Story" 

 of the American Golden-eye and of the Wood Duck. 



Over three-quarters of the food of Barrow's Golden-eye is of the 

 animal kingdom. The analysis of the stomach contents of 81 of these 

 birds gave the following approximate percentages: insects, 36; molluscs, 

 19; crustaceans, 18; fishes, 1; miscellaneous animal food, 4; total animal 

 food, 78 per cent. Pondweeds, 8; wild celery, 2; miscellaneous plant 

 food, 12; total vegetable food, 22 per cent. By comparison, the American 

 Golden-eye consumes less insects (28 per cent) and less molluscs (10 per 

 cent) but more crustaceans (32 per cent) than the present species. 

 When feeding in shallow water, searching for crustaceans under the 

 stones, they remain below for periods of 15 to 20 seconds, coming to the 



surface to swallow the craw- 

 fish they obtain. In the deep- 

 er water, where they hunt for 

 molluscs, which, in contrast, 

 they consume beneath the 

 water, they remain below for 

 longer intervals, ranging from 

 50 to 55 seconds. By the end 

 of the winter the feathers of 

 the forehead are often found 

 to be partially rubbed off due 

 to constant abrasion against 

 the stones by their method of 

 foraging. 



In habits and behaviour 

 Barrow's closely resembles 

 the American species, the 

 similarity even extending to 

 the same love of frolicking in 

 the rapids and fast flowing 

 streams; this characteristic is 

 shown to be the same both in 

 the Icelandic, and the widely 

 separated Rocky Mountain 



