236 THE r.lRDS OF DEVOy. 



White-eyed Duck. Isijroca fermginea (Gm.)- 



[Ferruginous Duck.] 



An aecideutal visitor, of extremely rare occurrence. 



Dr. Moore records a specimen '' at Drew's" (Mag. Xat. Hist. 1S37, 

 p. 360). Eellamy says "only one specimen" (Nat. Hist. 8. Devon, 

 p. 218); and Mr. J. B. Howe mentions that "only one or two specimens 

 have occurred" (Trans. Plym. Inst. 1802-63, p. 78). Mr. Gatcombe only 

 knew of the occurrence of one immature bird, probably the one at Drew's. 



A female of this species was shot on Slaptou Ley about the middle o£ 

 November Is?!. It was recognized amongst a number of wild-fowl 

 which had been killed on the Ley on a Public Shooting Day there. Mr. 

 AY. Jesse sent this bird to Mr. II. P. Nicholls, and the skin was submitted 

 for inspection to Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser, and was exhibited before 

 the Zoological Society. Mr. II. P. Nicholls does not know what became 

 of it afterwards (II. P. X., hi I'M. and MS. Notes). 



This pretty little species of freshwater Duck is a sunmier migrant to 

 the South and Central parts of Europe only, and it is a rare occasional 

 visitor to our Eastern Counties in the spring months, while its appearance 

 anywhere in the West Country can only be regarded as accidental, and it 

 is singular that the only two instances of its occurrence should have been 

 in the iviater — the one in the south of Devon having been shot at the 

 beginning of November, while a fine example, recorded by Mr. Mansel- 

 Pleydell, was obtained at the mouth of the Wareham river, in Dorset, on 

 3rd January, ISTiJ. These winter occurrences of a Duck which is, in 

 general, oidy a summer migrant from the far South may be compared 

 with the aiipearances of the Ked-footed Falcon, also a summer migrant 

 from the South, in the "West of England in the winter months, and are 

 not a little puzzling. There are no instances of the White-eyed Duck 

 reported either from Cornwall or Somerset. Our own specimens were 

 sent us in the flesh, through the kindness of Mr. J. H. Gurney, from 

 Leadenhall Market, where this Duck is occasionally to be seen in the 

 spring hanging up with other fowl which have been received from the 

 Continent. 



The prevailing tints uf the plumage of this small species are a bright 

 rusty red on the head, throat, and breast, with a brown back and white 

 underparts ; and it gets its ]iame from the white iris of the eye. 



Golden-eye. Clangula glaucion (Linn.). 



[Diving Wigeon, Cur Wigeon (female).] 



A winter visitor, but not very numerous ; small flocks and single birds 

 occurring occasionally, especially in severe seasons, on our estuaries and 

 at Slapton Ley. A small flock generally appears on Kiugsbridge estu.iry 

 early in October, consisting of females and young birds (E. A. S. E., MS, 

 Notes). This Duck appears to have been much more [^bundant formerly. 



