88 NESTS AND EQGS OF 



Ring-billed Blackhead, Marsh. Blue-bill and Ring-necked Scaup Duck, are names 

 by which this species is commonly known. In the United States it is a common 

 spring and fall migrant, and breeds from Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other 

 northern States northward. In some parts of Manitoba it is very abundant, espe- 

 cially in the Red River Valley, where it breeds in the marshes of the lakes and 

 ponds, among the reeds and thick grasses. The nest is made of fine grasses, and 

 slightly lined with feathers. In its general appearance, the bird is similar to the 

 foregoing, but the adult male has an orange-brown ring around the neck; the female 

 has no collar, and the head and neck are brown. This bird may be known in all 

 stages of plumage by the broad bill and gray speculum. The Ring-neck lays from 

 six to twelve eggs, varying from grayish to buff color; they are elliptical in shape, 

 and measure from 2.25 to 2.30 by 1.60 to 1.65. 



151. AMERICAN GOLBBW-EYE. Glauoionetta claitffula americana (Bonap.) 

 Geog. Dist. — ^North America, breeding from Maine and the British Provinces north- 

 ward; migrates south to Cuba. 



The American Golden-eye, Whistler, Garrot, or "Great-Head," is very similar to 

 the next species. It has a large round white spot before the eye, not touching the 

 base of the bill throughout. It is given the name of Whistler from the peculiar 

 noise of the wings while flying, and Great Head from its large and beautifully 

 created head. It is an abundant species throughout the fur countries, where it 

 frequents the rivers and fresh-water lakes in great numbers. Breeds as far north 

 as Alaska, where, on the Yukon, it nests about the middle of June. Like the Wood 

 Duck, it constructs its nests in hollow trees and decayed trunks. It is made of grass, 

 leaves, and moss, lined with down from the bird's, breast. The eggs are from six to 

 ten in number, ashy green in color, rounded-oval in shape, and measure from 2.30 to 

 2.55 long by 1.70 to 1.78 broad. 



153. BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE. Glauoionetta islandica (Gmel.) Geog. 



Dist. — Northern North America, south in winter to New York, Illinois and Utah. 



Greenland; Iceland. 



The Rocky Mountain Garrot, or Golden-eye, is almost exclusively a North 



American species, breeding, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the east and the 



mountains of Colorado in the west to high northern 



regions. It is a resident of Greenland and Iceland. It 



may be known by the large triangular white spot before 



the eye running up to a point, applied against the entire 



base of the bill and the division bf the white area on the 



wing. The head is moderately puffy, with an occipital 



crest, and the color of the gloss is chiefly purple and 



violet. The bill is black or greenish-dusky and the iris 



golden-yellow. In the female the' head is snuff -brown and 

 162. Barrow's Golden-eye, ... ^ i_ . j. j. i. j.t. m,.. i ■ j ,., 



no white patch m front of the eye. This bird, like the 

 last, makes its nest in hollow trees, of grass, sticks and weeds, lined with feathers. 

 Mr. Edwin Carter was the first to find the nest and eggs of this species in the moun- 

 tains of Colorado In 1876. From six to ten eggs are laid, these are usually elliptical 

 in shape, and measure from 2.25 to 2.30 long by 1.60 to 1.65 broad. 



153. BUFFLE-HEAD. Charitonetta albeola (Linn.) Geog. Dist.— North 

 America; south to Cuba and Mexico. Breeds from Maine northward, through 

 the Fur Countries and Alaska. 



