6o8 THE AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 



When surprised the Ringneck rises upon softly whistling wings, and 

 beats a rapid retreat, while you notice the loose occipital feathers, ruffled 

 hy fear into a bushy crest, and observe that there is no white on the head, 

 to cause confusion with other crested species. 



No, 298. 



AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 



A. O. U. No. 151. Clangula clangula americana (Bonap.). 



Synonyms. — GotDEN-EYE ; Whisti,er; Garrot. • 



Description. — Adult male: Head and upper neck black, with a greenish 

 gloss above and on sides ; a circular white spot at base of upper mandible on side, 

 but not reaching upper angle of bill ; lower neck all around, under parts, the mid- 

 dle and greater wing coverts, the inner secondaries, and outer scapulars, centrally, 

 pure white ; remaining upper parts black, the white scapulars being black-bordered, 

 and the feathers of sides similarly black-bordered along upper margin of the 

 region, and on the lower margin of the elongated posterior feathers; lower belly 

 mottled with dusky ; bill black ; feet orange with dusky webs and claws ; iris orange- 

 yellow. Adult female: Head deep snufE-brown, without white spot; the color 

 not reaching so far down on the neck as black of male ; remaining black of male 

 generally replaced by grayish dusky; sides of breast, chest, and sides more or 

 less overlaid, or underlaid, with the same; white of wing interrupted by dusky 

 giay, mostly confined to inner secondaries and adjacent tertiaries; bill varied 

 Vvith orange. Young male: Eike adult female, but darker and with increasing 

 indications of loral white spot. Adult male, length 18.00-23.00 (457.2-584.2) ; 

 wing 9.20 (233.7) ; ^^^^ 3-5° (88-9) ! bill along culmen 1.35 (34.3) ; bill from 

 frontal angle to tip 1.90 (48.3) ; depth of upper mandible from frontal angle to 

 tomia .92 (23.4) ; from anterior margin of white spot to anterior angle of nostril 

 .95 (24.1) ; from anterior angle of nostril to tip of bill .80 (20.3) ; tarsus 1.50 

 '(38.1). Female length about 16.50 (419.1). Other dimensions proportionately 

 smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Mallard size ; black and white coloration ; round white 

 spot at base of bill on side ; bright yellow eyes. 



Nesting. — ^Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, in hollow of decayed tree or 

 stub, lined with grass, feathers, etc. Eggs, 6-10, dull greenish or pale bluish. . 

 Av. size, 2.3s X 1.70 (59.7 X 43.2). 



General Range. — North America, breeding from Maine and the British Pro- 

 vinces northward ; in winter south to Cuba and Mexico. 



Range in Ohio. — Not common migrant. Sparingly resident in winter in open 

 streams of southern portion. 



OF all wing-music, from the drowsy hum of the Ruby-throat to the start- 

 ling whirr of the Ruffed Grouse, I know of none so thrilling sweet as the whist- 

 ling wing-note of the Golden-eye. A pair of the birds have been frightened 



