4io 



NORTHERN EUROPE 



often met with in estuaries and on the sea-shore ; and on its return in March and 

 April it may also be seen in large numbers. The far north forms its real breeding- 

 area, which embraces Iceland, Scandinavia, Lapland, Finland, Russia, northern 

 Asia, and North America. In winter it journeys to Abyssinia, India, Burma, 

 Borneo, and California. Wigeon fly quickly, vigorously, and almost noiselessly. 

 Measuring 18 inches in length, they are chestnut-brown on the head and throat, with 

 a whitish forehead and crown, the back and scapulars being grey with dark vermi- 

 culations, and the wing-speculum a deep metallic green with an inner border of 

 white and an outer one of black. The beak is slate-coloured, with a black tip, the 

 legs and feet are greyish blue, and the eyes hazel. The female is brown, marked 

 with blackish brown above, and white below, but in other respects like the male. 

 Among the diving-ducks the pochard is unknown in the highest north, and 



TUFTED DUCK. 



neither can the white-eyed duck be called a northern bird, but the golden- 

 eye (Clangula glauciori) should undoubtedly be mentioned in this chapter. 

 It is occasionally found breeding in northern Germany, but its principal area 

 extends beyond the Arctic Circle in Europe, Asia, and America. At the beginning 

 of the cold season the golden-eye migrates south, when it visits the British Islands. 

 Holland, France, Germany, and the Mediterranean. Feeding mainly on molluscs 

 and crustaceans, it dives well, and has a noisy whistling flight, which begins with 

 much splashing along the water. The golden-eye makes no nest, but lays its eggs 

 in a hole in a tree ; or, when there is no hole, lays them on the top of a pollard, 

 and if even the latter be wanting, on the ground. In no case is there any lining 

 beyond the bird's own light-coloured down. The eggs, ten to nineteen in number, 

 are greyish green, becoming darker during incubation. This bird, which is 

 recognisable from afar by the large white spot below the lores, measures 18 



