128 ABGTIG GAEBOT. 



It is an inhabitant of the Arctic regions of Europe and America, 

 being especially located in Iceland, on the borders of Lake Maytavan. 

 In America it appears to be exclusively confined to the Kocky 

 Mountains, for which reason it was called by Hichardson the Rocky 

 Mountain Garrot. 



Very little has been recorded of this bird since the appearance of 

 Richardson and Swainson's work. It nests on the rocks, among the 

 herbage, and lays ten or twelve eggs, which are of a clear green 

 colour, and many of which have found their way into British col- 

 lections for the Golden Eye, from which indeed it differs very little. 

 Great diameter two inches and two fifths, smaller one inch and four 

 fifths. 



Temminck says that the old birds migrate from Iceland before the 

 females, and the young of the year leave a considerable time after 

 the old birds. 



In its habits the Arctic Garrot does not differ from the Golden Eye. 



The adult male has the head and two inches of the neck bright 

 pansy pnrple, with a greenish reflection on the ears. Forehead and 

 chin brownish black. Dorsal plumage, wings, and broad tips of the 

 long flank feathers mostly velvet black. The crescent-shaped patch 

 from the rictus to the sides of the forehead, lower part of the neck, 

 shoulders, tips of the outer scapulars, lower row of lesser coverts, 

 tips of the greater coverts, six secondaries, and the under plumage 

 white; space round the thighs, tail, and its lateral under coverts 

 brocoUi brown. Bill blackish; legs orange; webs black. The feathers 

 of the forehead terminate on the bill in a semicircular outline. The 

 feathers of the occiput and nape are longer than in the common 

 Golden Eye, and form a more decided crest; wings two inches and a 

 half shorter than the tail. 



In the female the head and adjoining part of the neck are umber 

 brown, and without any white mark; dorsal plumage pitch black; its 

 anterior parts, particularly the shoulders and the base of the neck all 

 round, edged with ash grey; a white collar round the middle of the 

 neck. Flanks clove brown, edged with white. Intermediate coverts 

 blotched with white and black; greater coverts white tipped with 

 black; secondaries as in the male. Both mandibles orange at the 

 point, their tips and posterior points black. Feet as in the male. 

 — (Nuttall.) 



My figure is taken from Richardson and Swainson's Faun. Bor. 

 Amer., pi. 70. The e^^ is one brought by Mr. Procter, of Durham, 

 from Iceland. 



The bird has also been figured by Gould, pi. 380. 



