The Goldeneye. 159 



recorded in the Britisli Isles. In Greenland it breeds as far north as lat. 70°, in 

 small numbers, and west, on tbe mainland, to the Rocky Mountains. 



The principal food of the Goldeneye consists of various moUusca, sbrimps, 

 and Crustacea, small fisb also have been found in their stomachs. On fresh-water 

 they devour water insects and their larvae, and doubtless also small fish. I have 

 found shells of Physa fontinalis and a mass of the water larvae of Neuroptera in 

 the stomach of a female shot from one of our marsh drains. It also devours all 

 sorts of water plants and their seeds where these can be got by diving. In semi- 

 captivity Lord Lilford said they required an occasional meal of chopped fish or 

 whole shrimps and raw meat. 



The adult male is known as the " Pied-curre," other names are "Whewer" 

 or " Whistler," and in Lincolnshire " Rattlewings," from the noise made in flight 

 by the short stiff wings, which on a still night can be heard at a great distance, 

 and has often given me warning of the bird's approach : hence also probably the 

 generic name " Clangula." 



I never heard any note from the Goldeneye except a low croak, inaudible 

 at a short distance. The late Mr. Seebohm says it makes the same grating 

 sound as the Scaup and Tufted Duck; and Lord Lilford, who kept them on 

 his ponds at Lilford Hall, says, ("Birds of Northamptonshire"), "this species has 

 a curious habit of throwing back its head, at the same time uttering a low 

 mewing note, with the bill pointed straight upwards." This is not confined tO' 

 the male. 



Goldeneyes are amongst the most wary of fowls, and like Pochards are not 

 to be taken in a decoy; in fact their presence is a nuisance to the decoy-man, 

 diving and disturbing the water and gobbling up the corn intended for the Ducks 

 which are more amenable to the arts of the destroyer. At sea or on the coast they 

 are equally intractable, and will not allow a sailing boat or punt to come near them, 

 rising and going off on the slightest suspicion of danger. It is curious, however,, 

 that on ponds and inland waters, with a little management, it is very readily 

 approached and shot. Next to the Mallard, Mr. Abel Chapman considers it the 

 commonest on the Border Moors, arriving quite at the end of October in two's 

 and three's, the largest number he has seen together being seven, those he has 

 shot on the moors being either females or in immature plumage. That prince of 

 sportsmen, the late Mr. St. John, says that in Moray the Goldeneye frequents 

 almost every loch and stream, though always in small numbers, generally pairs or 

 single; the particular whistle of its wings can readily be distinguished amongst 

 other fowl ; he does not consider it a shy bird, but very active in diving, feeding 

 wholly under water. Goldeneyes are particularly quick in hiding themselves, and 



