GOLDEN-EYE {Clangula clangula ameri- 



cana). A handsome hardy species, length 19 



inches, that occurs commonly throughout 



North America at different seasons, breeding 



commonly in northern Canada and south 



locally to northern United States, and winter- 



^Bk ^ ' if ''i<%^ ing throughout the United States. At times 



hI^^ — ^^^BBfet^^ ^^ ^^ '^'^^ ^ '^^ Northern States when 



1^ -^I^H^^ the only open water is an occasional air hole, 



through which they are able to dive to the 

 bottom and secure their food of plant, mol- 

 lusks or fish. Golden-eyes are among the 

 most active of all ducks. They spring from 

 the surface of the water with the greatest of 

 ease, their rapidly whirring wings producing 

 a whistling sound, during flight, that can be 

 heard even before a flock comes into view; 

 on account of this sound, these birds are 

 almost exclusively known among sportsmen 

 as "Whistlers." Another name applied to 

 them is "Spirit Duck," this because they can 

 disappear so very rapidly under water. 



Golden-eyes normally lay their six to ten 

 grayish-green eggs on a bed of down in cavi- 

 ties of trees, but as suitable sites are scarce 

 many of them locate on the ground Under 

 concealment of logs, rocks, etc. 



BARROW GOLDEN-EYE {Clangula 

 islandica) . Otherwise known as the ' ' Rocky 

 Mountain Garrot," this species, which dif- 

 fers from the preceding in having a white 

 crescent before the eye in place of a round 

 spot, having the head glossed with purple instead of blue and in having less 

 white on the wings, is not nearly as abundant as the common Golden-eye. 

 They breed in Canada north of the St. Lawrence and in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains south to Colorado and winter only to the northern border of the United 

 States. They commonly frequent quite turbulent streams, especially while 

 nesting. The females of the two species of Golden-eyes so closely resemble 

 each other that only the differences in the shapes of the bills can identify 

 them, that of the present species being higher at the base when viewed from 

 the side, and narrower at the tip when viewed from above. 



GOLDEN-EYE ( 9 , i) 

 BARROW GOLDEN-EYE 



i6 



