82 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



bills. It has not been observed in summer in Southern Ontario, but 

 breeds commonly throughout the North-West. In Alaska, Turner 

 mentions having seen the species at St. Michael's and on the Aleutian 

 Islands, but in small numbers, and so shy that he was unable to 

 secure a specimen. 



Genus GLAUCIONETTA Stejneger. 

 GLAUCIONETTA CLANGULA AMERICANA (Boxap.). 



51. American Golden-eye. (151) 



Male: — With the head and upper neck, glossy green, and a white oval or 

 rounded loral spot, not touching the base of the biU throughout ; lower neck all 

 round, lower parts, including sides, most of the scapulars, wing coverts and 

 secondaries, white ; the white of outer surface of wings, continuous ; lining of 

 wings and axillars, dark; most of upper parts, black; no waving on the back 

 or sides; bill, black with pale or yellow end, with nostrils in anterior half; 

 feet, orange; webs, dusky; eyes, yellow; head, uniformly puffy. FemaJe.: — 

 With head snuff-brown, and no white patch in front of the eye, and white of 

 wings not always continuous. Length, 16-19 ; wing, 8-9. 



Hab. — North America, breeding from Maine and the British Provinces 

 northward ; in winter, south to Cuba. 



Nest, in hollow trees; it is made of grass, leaves and moss, lined with down. 



Eggs, eight to ten, ashy -green. 



This species is a regular visitor at Hamilton Bay during the 

 spring and fall migrations. While here they do not keep by them- 

 selves, but seek the society of whatever species may be at hand. 

 They are very watchful, and difficult of approach. If any one of my 

 readers has ever tried to scull up behind the rushes towards a bunch 

 of Bluebills, among which were one or two Golden-eyes, and suc- 

 ceeded in getting a shot, he has had much better luck than I have 

 had. Frequently, before getting within one hundred yards, I would 

 hear the whistling of the Golden-eyes' wings, and looking up, see 

 them going off, with the others following. Like many others which 

 are known in Southern Ontario only as visitors in spring and fall, 

 the Golden-eyes breed in suitable places throughout the North- West 

 Territory. 



Dr. BeU mentions their breeding near Norway House, on Hudson's 

 Bay, and Mr. Nelson says : " In the Aleutian Islands this bird is a 

 winter resident, as observed by Mr.. Dall. The same author also 

 reports it as being always one of the first arrivals along the Yukon." 

 At the shooting stations in Southern Ontario it is not abundant, but 



