214 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



is an object much sought after by ornithological col- 

 lectors, but fully adult birds are not by any means easy 

 to obtain. In the west of Scotland and elsewhere, I have 

 at different times pursued for hours one or other of the 

 full-plumaged male Golden-eyes met with, and, far 

 oftener than otherwise, without once drawing trigger. 

 This duck is sometimes called Magpie Diver, from its 

 parti-coloured plumage ; also Rattle-wings, from the 

 noise made by its rapidly moving wings during flight. 

 Length, about 19 in. ; weight, up to 2j lb., or a little more 

 occasionally. 



THE BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK, Fuligula albeola, is a 

 North American species obtained very rarely in Great 

 Britain. It is much smaller than the Golden-eye, which 

 it much resembles in appearance. The adult male of the 

 Golden-eye has a white spot at the base of the bill in 

 front of each eye, whereas the Buffel-head has a largish 

 triangular white patch behind the eye. Length, 15 

 inches ; weight, about a pound. 



THE LONG-TAILED DUCK, Fuligula glacialis, is a winter 

 visitor, chiefly to the northern parts of the kingdom. I 

 have frequently seen this duck on the Scottish coast, 

 particularly in the Outer Hebrides, but have not as yet 

 seen it on the east or south coasts of England. It is an 

 extremely hardy sea-going fowl, and appears to delight 

 in swimming on the long swelling waves of the Atlantic. 

 The adult male Long-tailed Duck has very handsome 

 and varied plumage, with elongated tail-feathers some- 

 times extending to 8 in. or 9 in. In the north this bird 

 frequently goes by the name " Calloo," from the loud 

 musical cry of the drake. Length from point of bill to 

 tip of tail, 26 in.; weight, \\ lb. to if lb. 



THE HARLEQUIN DUCK, Fuligula histrionica, so called 



