OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 8l 



seek the society of whatever species may be at hand ; they are 

 very watchful and difficult of approach. If any of my readers 

 have ever tried to scull up behind the rushes towards a bunch 

 of Blue-bills, among which were one or two Golden-eyes, and suc- 

 ceeded in getting a shot, they have had much better luck than 

 I have had; more frequently before getting within loo yards I 

 would hear the whistling of the Golden-eye's wings, andloo^'fing 

 up see them going off with the others following. Like many 

 others which are known in Southern Ontario only as visitors in 

 spring and fall, the Golden-eyes breed in suitable places 

 throughout the North-West Territory. 



In Ontario it is not an abundant species, though a few are 

 seen every season. 



49. GLAUCIONETTA ISLANDICA (Gm.). 152. 

 BarroD^'s Golden-eye. 



Very similar to the preceding, differing chiefly in being larger in size; 

 gloss of the head purple and violet ; loral spot larger ; white on the wing 

 divided by a dark bar ; feathers on the hind head lengthened into a crest : bill 

 blotched with red. Length ig-22 ; wing, 9-10. The female can probably not 

 be distinguished from the preceding. 



Hab. Northern North America, south in winter to New York, Illinois, 

 and Utah ; breeding from the Gulf of St. Lawrence northward, and south in 

 the Rocky Mountains to Colorado. 



Dr. Garnier, who resides at Lucknow, near the south end of 

 Lake Huron, reports having found this species occasionally in 

 wmter in the inlets along the lake shore. The Dr. is not in har- 

 mony in all things with the modern school of Ornithologists, and 

 thinks this a case of unnecessary sub-division, at all events he 

 claims having found both forms, which is likely correct, as the 

 present species is found on Lake Michigan, which is within easy 

 reach of the point which the Dr. refers to. It has also been 

 taken at Toronto, and at Hamilton I am aware of three being 

 obtained, one of which came into my possession ; they may, 

 however, be more common than we are aware of, as the Hun- 

 ters do not trouble the Whistlewings if anything more suitable 

 for the table is in view. 



