BABBOW GOLDEN-EYE 175 



Previous to 1876 the Barrow GroldSn-eye was supposed to have 

 a general far northern distribution. In that year the nest and eggs 

 of this species were first found in the mountains of Colorado. Since 

 that time it has been found breeding on a number of the sequestered 

 mountain lakes of the Rockies from southern Colorado almost to the 

 Arctic Coast although breeding records north of the United States 

 are rare. On the northwest the breeding range extends to the base 

 of the Alaska Peninsula and to Iceland on the east. The species also 

 breeds about the mountain lakes of Oregon, Washington, and British 

 Columbia. The cold of the winter season forces it but little south of 

 its summer range. By frequenting water that is too deep or too 

 rapid to freeze it is able to remain all the j'ear as far north as 

 Minnesota and the Great Lakes. 



Along the Pacific Coast the Barrow Golden-eye is to be found 

 during the winter season from Alaska south to central California. 

 In California it has never been taken south of San Francisco Bay 

 and even to the north of this place it is a relatively rare bird. In all, 

 less than a dozen specimens have been recorded from the state, all 

 but one being from the vicinity of San Francisco Bay. This one, 

 recorded by Belding (MS), was captured far from the seacoast — at 

 Gridley, Butte County, February 26, 1895, where it accompanied 

 two or three others in a flock of American Golden-eyes. This species 

 apparently frequents salt water during its migrations and is to be 

 found, at least sometimes, in company with the more common Ameri- 

 can Golden-eye. In Washington it is said to keep to the open lakes 

 and rivers. 



The most recent specimens taken within the state were secured 

 by Little John (1912, p. 41) under the following circumstances: "After 

 examining hundreds of specimens of Golden-eyes for many years 

 past, I at last succeeded in securing a young male in immature 

 plumage on November 19, 1908, and a female on November 28, 1910 ; 

 all others were of the common, or American Golden-eye, which are 

 quite plentiful during the fall migration on the Redwood City 

 salt marshes." 



The white patch in front of the eye is sufficient for telling the 

 males of either species of Golden-eye from other ducks; but to sepa- 

 rate the Barrow from the American Golden-eye is somewhat more 

 difficult, especially in the open. In flight the two are practically indis- 

 tinguishable and when on the water a close view must be afforded in 

 order that the shape of the white patch in front of the eye be made 

 of use as a distinguishing character. By examination of specimens 

 in the hand the male Barrow Golden-eye can be recognized by the 

 following points: the vertical, upward pointing, wedge-shaped patch 

 in front of the eye ; the color of the head, on which the reflections are 

 chiefly steely blue, the better developed crest, the more goose-like bill. 



