THE GOLDEN-EYE DUCK. 155 



SO that the experienced fowler will rarely bestow time on the 

 pursuit. 



A wild-fowl shooter, who spent the first week of March 1847 

 at Strangford Lough, following his vocation, saw tliis species 

 only of the diving ducks. They appeared, at low water, about the 

 rivers which take their course through the shallower parts of the 

 lough, and at high water came from the lough proper into the 

 sandy inland bays on the surface of the flowing tide. They are 

 often called here fresh-water wigeon. Topping wigeon is a name 

 for them (and the red-breasted merganser) in Drogheda Bay;"^ — 

 the golden-eye " pops " down or dives so suddenly, that the 

 adjunct is very characteristic. 



As the golden-eye seems to have a partiality for fresh-water, it 

 is, as may be expected, a constant inhabitant of Lough Neagh 

 during its sojourn in Ireland. On tliis vast lake, and on the 

 river Main, which joins it after flowing through Shanes-Castle 

 Park, where its banks are most richly and beautifully wooded, I 

 have seen splendid adult males to perfection, and, in addition to 

 their personal beauty, have been attracted by the fine ringing 

 sound of their pinions tlu-ough the air. That some idea might 

 be formed of the relative numbers of different kinds of ducks 

 shot on Lough Neagh, I engaged a man living on its banks, 

 who brought them on sale to Belfast, to call on me regu- 

 larly with his stock, during two or three winters. In this manner 

 I ascertained that more of the golden-eye were procured there 

 than of any species : among those brought frequently from the 

 5th of November to the Gth of April (the earliest and latest 

 dates) were several adult males. The other kinds were tufted 

 ducks, pochards, wigeon, wild ducks, teal, pintails, and goosanders ; 

 but one individual only of each of the last two species. The 

 golden eye is commonly shot here from the beach after the manner 

 described by Colonel Hawker and Sir William Jardine. To use 

 the words of the former author — " If you see a single curre 



* Mr. R. J. MonigoniPiy. 



