204 BAY AND SEA DUCKS 



breast, belly, exposed part of wing-coverts, speculum, and most of the scap- 

 ulars white; rest of plumage black. Ad. 9. Head and throat cinnamon- 

 brown, foreneck white; upper breast, back, and sides ashy gray bordered with 

 grayish; wing-coverts tipped with white; speculum, lower breast and belly 

 white. L., 20'00; W., 9'00; B. from anterior margin of white patch to anterior 

 margin of nostril, 1*00; from anterior margin of nostril to tip, '75. 



Range. N. A. Breeds from cen. Alaska, n. Mackenzie, cen. Keewatin, n. 

 Ungava, and N. F., s. to s. B. C., s. Mont., n. N. D., n. Mich., n. N. Y., and 

 n. New England; winters from the Aleutian Islands, Utah, Nebr., Minn., Lake 

 Erie, Maine, and N. B. s. to s. Calif., cen. Mex., and Fla. ; occurs in Bermuda. 



Washington, not rare, W. V., Oct. 8-Apl. 1. Long Island, common W. V., 

 Dec. 5-Apl. Ossining, common T. V. and W. V., Nov.-May. Cambridge, 

 rather common, T. V. and W. V., Nov. 15-Apl. 1. N. Ohio, not common 

 T. V., Mch. 10-30; Oct. 5-Nov. 20. SE. Minn., uncommon T. V., Mch. 23. 



Nest, in a stump or hollow tree. Eggs, 6-10, pale greenish, 2'35 x 1*75 

 Date, Upton, Maine., May 10; Sweetwater Lake, N. D., May 14. 



The rapidly moving wings of most Ducks make a whistling sound, 

 but this species excels in wing music. As a diver it can also claim high 

 rank. Brewster records a brood of young birds which, in response to 

 the calls of their mother at the base of the nest-tree, jumped from the 

 nest-opening to the water twelve feet below. (See his important paper, 

 Auk, XVII, 1900, pp. 207-216.) "The note of the male Whistler is a single 

 peep, accompanied by a kicking up of the feet, while the head is thrown 

 far back toward the tail. The duck, when startled or lost, calls out a 

 sharp cur-wew." (Eaton.) 



1910. TOWNSEND, C. W., Auk, XXVII, 177-181 (courtship). 



152. Clangula islandica (Gmel.}. BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE. Ad. &. 

 Head and throat dark, glossy, purplish blue, an irregular, somewhat spread- 

 wing-shsLiped white patch at the base of the bill measuring, along the bill, 

 about one inch in height; neck all around, breast, belly, speculum, lesser 

 wing-coverts, ends of greater ones, and the shaft part of the scapulars white; 

 rest cf plumage black. Ad. 9. Resembles the 9 of the preceding species 

 but has the bill shorter and more tapering, with more or less yellow instead 

 of brown; brown of head and neck darker; ashy on chest broader and more 

 pronounced; greater wing-coverts usually tipped with black. (W. Brewster, 

 Auk, 1909, 158). W., 9'25; B., from anterior margin of white patch to ante- 

 rior margin of nostril, '80; from anterior margin of nostril to tip, '66. 



Range. N. N. Am. Breeds from s. cen. Alaska and nw. Mackenzie to 

 s. Ore., and s. Colo., and from n. Ungava to cen. Quebec; winters from se. 

 Alaska, cen. Mont., the Great Lakes, and Gulf of St. Lawrence s. to cen. 

 Calif., s. Colo., Nebr., and New England; accidental in Europe; breeds 

 commonly in Iceland and is a rare visitor to Greenland. 



Washington, A. V., one record. Long Island, one record. N. Ohio, 

 casual T. V. SE. Minn., rare W. R. 



Nest, in a stump or hollow tree. Eggs, 6-10, pale greenish, 2*40 x 1*70. 

 Date, Iceland, May 30; Flathead Valley, Mont., May 14. 



A more northern species than the preceding, which it doubtless 

 resembles in habits. 



153. Charitonetta albeola (Linn.). BUFFLEHEAD. Ad. <?. A broad 

 white band passes around back of head from eye to eye; rest of head, upper 

 neck, and throat beautifully glossed with purple, greenish and bluish; lower 

 neck all around, breast, belly, wing-coverts, speculum and outer scapulars 

 white; back black; upper tail-coverts and tail ashy grayish. Ad. 9. A 

 vvhite patch on either side of head, throat and entire upperparts fuscous- 



