168 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
GOLDEN EYE. 
CLaNGuULA GLAUcIOoN, Linn. 
Pl. XXVL, fig. 1. 
Geogr. distr.—Northern Palearctic and Nearctic Regions, migrating 
southwards as far as the northern shores of Africa to winter; may 
breed in the Shetland Isles. According to Gray, it probably breeds 
occasionally in Sutherlandshire. 
Food.—Alge, Mollusca, Crustacea, and fish. 
Nest.—A hole or depression lined with down. 
Position of nest.—Hither in a hollow tree at some height from the 
ground, under brushwood, or amongst rushes at the edge of water. 
Number of eggs.—10-19. 
Time of nidification.—V. 
The Golden Hye is a constant winter visitant in Great 
Britain. Its favourite nesting place is a hole in a tree 
growing near water. Mr. Booth, in Part VIII. of his ‘ Rough 
Notes,’ says, respecting this bird:—‘‘ Though much time 
was spent in the attempt, I never succeeded in verifying 
the fact of this species breeding in Great Britain. The 
female I repeatedly observed during summer on remote 
Highland lochs, and on more than one occasion a bird was 
detected flying from old and weather-beaten pine-woods, 
where, doubtless, her nest was concealed ; sweeping rapidly 
beneath the branches in the shade thrown by the dense 
timber, it was by no means easy to keep the small grey- 
tinted fowl in view. For several days subsequent to the 
11th June, 1869, I observed a male, at times in company 
with a female, disporting himself in the water at the east 
side of Loch Slyn in Ross-shire. While watching the pair 
the female on one occasion disappeared without attracting 
attention; shortly after, however, she came in sight, 
skimming from the plantation of Scotch firs standing to 
the east of the loch, and rejoined the drake, when both 
birds, evidently disturbed by the approach of the punt, rose 
on wing and left the water. The male evinced a decided 
aversion to permit of a close inspection ; judging, however, 
from the nearest view I was enabled to obtain, he appeared 
to be in full adult plumage. This is the only instance 
when the mature drake came under my notice later than 
the first week of April.” 
