522 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



earliest fall record, while Mr. Simpson writes that he secured a female 

 at Crystal Point November 12, 1903, and received a fine male shot by 

 a gunner on December 3 of the same year. 



34. Clangula clangula americana. American Golden-eye. 



The Golden -eye, called by the gunners " Whistler," is of regular and 

 common occurrence as a spring and fall transient, and is found also 

 through the winter; although in much reduced numbers. Whenever 

 the bay opens up a little a few Golden- eyes find the open holes, so that 

 it would seem that they are always present on the lake in winter. 

 Late fall (November) and early spring (March), however, find them 

 most abundant. When it is not too rough, they prefer the open lake 

 for a feeding-ground, but they are commonly found on the bay also, 

 and occasionally even in the ponds. As a rule they go in flocks by 

 themselves, but sometimes occur in the company of other ducks, the 

 Lesser Scaup in particular. Numerous flocks were noted by us on March 

 28, 1900, although it seems probable that many transient birds really 

 arrived somewhat earlier, inasmuch as the latest record was for April 

 13, which would indicate that the migration extended over a period of 

 only about two weeks, which seems too short by comparison. Accord- 

 ing to Mr. Simpson's experience, however, April 26 and 16 were the 

 latest dates for the spring in 1902 and 1903. October 29, 1889, is the 

 earliest fall record available, being the date of a specimen in Mr. Sen- 

 nett's collection. In the fall of 1900 the first birds were seen Novem- 

 ber 6. All the male specimens examined in the fall were in the 

 immature plumage save one, taken November 16. Later in the 

 season adult birds seem to be somewhat more numerous. 



[Clangula islandica. Barrow's Golden-eye. 



This species may be expected to occur here as a casual winter visitant. The nearest 

 locality at which it has been taken appears to be Lorain County, Ohio, ( McCormick, 

 Auk, IX., 1892, 397 ; Jones, Birds of Ohio, 1903, 44). Certain intelligent 

 sportsmen, indeed, have informed the writer of its undoubted occurrence at Erie, but 

 in the absence of actual specimens the records are not admitted. The adult males of 

 this species may be distinguished from those of Clangula clangula americana by the 

 gloss of the head, which is purple and violet, rather than green, and by the fan-shaped 

 instead of rounded white spot at the base of the bill.] 



35. Charitonetta albeola. Buffle-head Duck. 



Common as a spring and fall transient. In the spring of 1 900 they 

 were found usually in small parties by themselves, although during the 

 earlier part of their sojourn they were often met with in larger numbers 

 associated with the flocks of Scaup Ducks. Sometimes, too, they were 



