58 Birds of Colorado 
Habits.—The Golden-eyes are birds of strong flight, 
and this is accompanied by a loud whistling noise, caused 
by the rapid vibration of their wings. They are there- 
fore frequently known among gunners as “ whistlers.” 
They prefer large open lakes, where they dive for their 
food ; this consists chiefly of mollusca, crustacea and 
small fishes, though water-weeds are doubtless eaten 
as well. The nest is always placed in a hollow tree, 
often in a comparatively small cavity. The eggs, 6 to 10 
in number, are bluish-green or sea-green, and average 
2°50 x 1°70. 
Genus CHARITONETTA. 
Closely resembling Clangula, but with the nostrils nearer the base 
of the bill than the tip. 
One species only. 
Buffle-head. Charitonetta albeola. 
A.O.U. Checklist no 153—Colorado Records—Aiken 72, p. 210; 
Morrison 89, p. 165; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 56, 195; 06, p. 51 ; Henderson 
03, p. 234; 09, p. 226. 
Description.—Male—Head rather puffy in appearance, glossed with 
green and purple; a conspicuous white patch from just below the eye 
to the nape; lower neck all round, under-parts, some of the scapulars 
and a patch on, the wing, white; rest of the upper-parts dusky black, 
becoming greyish posteriorly ; iris brown, bill dull blue, dusky on the 
nail and base, feet fleshy. Length 15-0; wing 6-75; tail 3-0; culmen 
1-10; tarsus 1-20. 
The female is dusky grey above, with a white spot below the ear- 
coverts, a white speculum and belly; wing 6-50. 
Distribution.— Breeding from Wisconsin and Quebec, north to Hudson 
Bay and Alaska; south in winter, chiefly in the United States from 
Massachusetts, Utah and British Columbia southwards to the Valley 
of Mexico. 
The Buffle-head is » common Duck in winter and on migration in 
Colorado. Mr. Hersey informs me there is always a flock all through 
the winter on Barr Lake, near Denver ; it is better known perhaps a8 
a migrant arriving towards the latter half of March. It is reported 
from Fort Lyon, March 27th (Cooke), El Paso co. (Aiken), Boulder co. 
(Henderson), and Loveland, March 20th (Cooke). Carter obtained 
