150 Brewer on the Roclcy Mountain Golden-eye. 



River in the winter. Examples have been procured, from time to 

 time, in the Boston market, by Mr. William Brewster and others, 

 most of which are known to have been shot within the limits of 

 Massachusetts. 



Mr. E. W. Nelson states, that it is a winter resident in the 

 waters of Lake Michigan, and that at this season it is also found 

 irregularly throughout the State of Illinois. An example was pro- 

 cured on the Wabash, near Mount Carmel, by Prof. Stein, in 

 December, 1874, and Dr. Hoy procured one in 1860 at Racine. 

 They are believed to be not uncommon on Lake Michigan during 

 the winter, but the season is not favorable either for procuring 

 them or ascertaining just how common they are. 



In 1872, Mr. Henshaw procured two examples on Utah Lake, 

 and he is quite inclined to the belief that this species occurs there 

 regularly, and in considerable numbers. He was assured by the 

 gunners that more or less were shot there every winter, though it 

 was a less abundant species than the common Golden-eye, from 

 which they could readily distinguish it. 



Mr. Edwin Carter, of Colorado, who was probably the first to 

 actually secure the nest and eggs of this species within the limits of 

 the United States, assures me that he has been for many years well 

 aware of the common presence of this species among the mountains 

 of that region. A fine set of seven eggs procured by that gentle- 

 man are now in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge. 

 Mr. Carter writes me, that " the usual nest complement of Barrow's 

 Golden-eye is from six to ten, varying with the age and vigor of the 

 parents. Last year (1876) we took a nest of ten that contained 

 large embryos ; we also took another set of six. Another clutch 

 (the one sent to the Museum) consisted of seven. I have also met 

 with several young broods with from six to eight, and one with ten. 

 They nest in hollow trees, and it is surprising to see to what small 

 cavities, in some instances, they can accommodate themselves. 

 The present season (1877) I have examined a great many trees, and 

 every one that had a suitable opening either contained an occupant 

 or indicated recent nesting by egg-shells and other marks." 



This Duck has not been detected in California, but Dr. Cooper 

 thinks that it undoubtedly occurs among the mountains of the 

 northeastern part of the State. Mr. Dall found it present but rare 

 on the Yukon River. Examples were procured by Bischoff at Sitka, 

 and a single individual was taken by Mr. M. McLeod, June 29, 1863, 



