250 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



these are also met with along the coasts but they are most often found 

 here in pairs feeding in sheltered. coves or inlets upon shell fish which 

 they get from the bottom by diving. Their flight is very swift and 

 steady and they always appear to have a fixed destination in view for 

 they are difficult to decoy although occasionally one or two will come 

 to the decoys with a flock of Scaups or "Blue-bills." 



They are very active birds when upon the surface of the water and 

 so keen is their perception that they will dive at the flash of a gun and 

 disappear below the protecting surface of the water before the shot 

 reaches the place whereon they rested. They are good swimmers and 

 can go a long ways under water or to a great depth in search of food. 

 In the interior they feed largely upon weeds and grain which they pro- 

 cure from fields bordering ponds. When rising from the surface of the 

 water they do not spring directly up as do the Black Ducks but pursue 

 a slanting course until they are at a sufficient elevation. Their only 

 means of communication with one another appears to be by means of a 

 low croak, their only other note being the whistling made by their 

 wings when in rapid flight. 



BARROW GOLDENxEYE. 



A. O. U. No. 153. (Clangula islandica ) 



RANGE. 



North America, breeding north of the United States except in the 

 Rocky Mountains where they breed in Colorado. They winter south 

 to the middle portions of the United States. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Same size and general build as the common Golden-eye but with the 

 head glossed with purplish and the spot in front of the eye in the shape 

 of a crescent. The white on the wing is also usually broken by a 

 black bar. The female is practically not to be distinguished from that 

 of the common Golden-eye. 



HABITS. 



The habits of the Barrow Golden-eye do not appear to be essentially 

 different from those of the more common variety. Like the latter they 

 nest in the hollow cavities of trees. In the fall they are frequently 

 seen associated with the other Golden-eye and as a rule this one is 

 thought not to be quite as wary and to more easily be called to decoys. 

 The flesh of both species is very palatable and they are eagerly sought 

 by gunners. 



