176 BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



about twelve seconds, consequently spending four 

 fifths of its time under water. A female shot on one 

 of our marsh drains on February 10, 1870, had in 

 the stomach a few shells of Physa fontinalis, a large 

 mass of the water-larvae of Neuroptera, with a little 

 vegetable fibre, probably swallowed along with the 

 insects. 



The Golden-eyes pair early, about the same time 

 as the Wigeon namely, early in February. They 

 leave the district towards the end of March or early 

 in April. 



227. CLANGULA ALBEOLA (Linnaeus). Buffel- 

 headed Duck. 



A beautiful mature male of this American Duck 

 was shot in the winter of 1864-65 on the Bessingby 

 beck, close to the town of Bridlington, by Richard 

 Morris. It is now in the possession of Mr. Machin, 

 bird-preserver, of that place *. 



228. MERGUS ALBELLUS, Linnaeus. Smew. 



The old female and young birds are by no means 

 uncommon on the river, as well as on our freshwater 

 drains and becks in severe winters . The old male, how- 

 ever, in his elegant and chaste plumage of green, 

 black, and white, is extremely rare. 



Mr. Boulton, in the ' Zoologist ' for 1864, p. 8962, 

 on the authority of Mr- George Wright, of York, has 



* I am indebted to Mr. Thomas Boynton, of Ulrome Grange, 

 near Bridlington, for the notice of this rare capture. 



