46 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



The American Goldon-oye, •■ Whistlciy' ami " Great Head," as it is variously 

 known in different parts of the United States, has a very extended distribntion, 

 being found as far south as Florida and Jlexico during the winter, and in summer 

 to the highest northern limits. It breeds from the 42d parallel northward, and is 

 found in Avinter on both coasts from about the same parallel southward. 



Captain l?lakiston records it as having been first seen by him on the Saskatchewan, 

 at Fort Carlton, on the 10th of April. He also received specimens from Hudson's 

 r>ay. ^Ir. Bernard Ikoss mentions finding it along the Mackenzie River as far nortli 

 as the Arctic coast. According to Richardson, it frequents the rivers and fresh-water 

 lakes throughout the Fur Countries in great numbers. In that region it appears to be 

 by no means shy, allowing the si)ortsnian to ajjproach sufficiently near; but it dives 

 so dexterously at the flash of the gun or at the twanging of the bow, and is so difficult 

 to kill, that the natives believe it to be endowed with a supernatural power. 



This species was found by Colonel Grayson near ^Mazatlan, in AVestern ^lexicd. 

 where, as he states, it is common during the winter months. A single specimen is 

 reported as having been taken in Bermuda in April, 1854. I can find no record of 

 its occurrence in any of the West India Islands, though its iiresence in Southern 

 Florida is suggestive of an occasional visit to Cuba. 



The nest of this species was found by Mr. Lockhart on the Yukon, June 18. It 

 contained six eggs. The nest was in a hole high up in a ])oplar-tree, about an arm's 

 length deep from the mouth of the hole. Mr. Dall met with it at Nulato, where it 

 was the first Duck killed, ^lay ^5, 1808. It is always early in arriving, and is common 

 both on the Yukon and on the Pacific coast, near the mouth of that river. Its eggs 

 were obtained from near Fastolik from the marshes. The skin of this Duck, whicli. 

 after being st\iffed and decorated with beads, had been used as an ornament in tlie 

 lodge, was bought from some Indians on the Yukon, near the Mission. 



Mr. R. Browne met with this species on the I'acific at Vancouver Island. Dr. 

 Cooper states that it is abundant along the whole Pacific coast from Puget Sound to 

 Siin Diego, and beyond ; and although not common on the fresh waters of the interior, 

 it frequents Salt Lake, and i)robably other lakes east of the Sierra Nevada. It is 

 generally recognizaltle from a distance by the shrill noise which it makes as it rises 

 slowly from the surfai'c of the water when starting to fly. It seems to be perfectly 

 silent in t'alifornia dining the winter, making no noise, except that produced by tlio 

 whistling of its wings. It is generally shy ; though, trusting to its dexterity in div- 

 ing, it will allow of a very near api)roach. This species dives so very quickly at tin' 

 flash of the jKJwder that it could not be shot with the old-fashioned flint-lock. Its 

 food consists of small fish, crabs, and marine plants, and its flesh is in consequeiico 

 rather fishy, and inferior for the table. At Unalashka Mr. Dall found it a winter 

 visitor, migrating landward in the spring. 



^Ir. George A. IJoardinan has found this species common in the neighborliood of 

 Calais during the summer months, where it breeds in stumps and in hollow trees. 

 In Massachusetts it is ([uite abundant both in the spring and fall, many of these 

 Ducks wintering in the State at places where (qien water can be found. Large flocks 

 often spend each winter in the open parts of Charles River, between the ]Mill-dam ami 

 (Cambridge Bridge. In very severe weather, if that jwrtion of the river is obstructed 

 by ice, the birds are temporarily driven to the ojien harbor, but invariably return 

 when the ice is broken up. They are excessively shy, and unapproachable when 



wliieh we arc unnlilo to quote, since no clew is given in the extra edition of tlio paper in question. I'r. 

 Ctuies (see " Ki'y to North American Hirtls," p. 290) also admits his iuability to distinguish tlio females 

 of the two species. 



