BRITISH BIRDS. 



343 



THE GOLDEN-EYE. 

 (Anns Clanguld) Linn. Canard gnrrof, Temm.) 



THE weight of this species varies from twenty-six 

 ounces to two pounds. The length is nineteen 

 inches, and the breadth thirty-one. The bill is 

 bluish black, short, thick, and elevated at the base: 

 the head large, slightly crested, and black, or 

 rather of a glossy bottle green, with violet reflec- 

 tions; a large white spot is placed on the space on 

 each side between the corners of the mouth and the 

 eyes, the irides of which are of a golden yellow: 

 the throat, and a small portion of the upper part of 

 the neck, are of a sooty or velvet black ; the lower, 

 to the shoulders, the breast, belly, and vent, white; 

 but some of the side feathers, and those which 

 cover the thighs, are tipped with black : the scapu- 

 lars white and deep black; of the latter colour are 

 also the adjoining long tertial feathers, and those 

 on the greater part of the back; the first fourteen 



