The Barrow Golden-eye 



profess my own scepticism — the youngsters are transported upon the 

 parents' feet. 



The imagination cannot but follow the adventures of children so 

 romantically cradled and so magically whisked about by fairy flying car- 

 pets (whatever the precise method of attachment thereto). If we had to be 

 a duck, we would elect to have golden eyes and to chase mischievous water 

 bugs through limpid icy pools, while nodding little fir trees looked on and 

 applauded. I am sure, too, that clangula's bright-eyed offspring do enjoy 

 their youthful hours. A group of four which we sighted on a lake of 

 northern Washington > were no sooner made out than they paddled over in 

 our direction, as curious as we were. When their curiosity was satisfied, 

 the jolly quartette resumed their interrupted sport, which seemed to con- 

 sist of a spirited game of tag. Now the ducklings splashed and floundered 

 over the surface of the water, and now they took wing, circling the valley 

 half a dozen times in breathless pursuit. After this they returned sud- 

 denly to plunge into the water, and so carried on the unending chase in 

 its emerald depths — all as happy as children in grandpa's old barn. 



No. 362 



Barrow's Golden-eye 



A. O. U. Xo. 152. Glaucionetta islandica (Gmelin). 



Synonyms. — Whistler. Garrot. Rocky Mountain Garrot. 



Description. — Adult male: Similar to preceding species, but gloss of head 

 strongly blue-black or purplish; a triangular loral white spot continuous with .base of 

 bill on sides and exceeding it above and below; white wing-patch crossed by transverse 

 bar of black; and white of scapulars somewhat less extensive; tip of bill surrounding 

 nail orange. Adult female: Presenting only trifling differences from that of the pre- 

 ceding species; bill of slightly different proportions, averaging stubbier and with 

 slightly broader nail; the tips of the greater coverts blackish. Size of preceding, but 

 averaging nearer the larger dimensions. Upper mandible from frontal angle to edge 

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

 22.4 (.88); from anterior angle of nostril to tip of bill 16.3 (.64) — male. Similar 

 dimensions of female: 19.8 (.78); 19. 1 (.75); 17.8 (.70). 



Recognition Marks. — Mallard size; black and white coloration; triangular, 

 or open-wing-shaped white spot at base of bill on side; head with purplish gloss. 

 Female like preceding, — distinguishable with certainty only by blackish tips of greater 

 coverts. 



Nesting. — -Nest: In "spouts" or other hollows of trees, lined with grass and 

 trash and white down. Eggs: 6 to 14; greenish gray (between mineral-gray and tea- 

 green). Av. size 62.7 x 43 (2.47 x 1.71). Season: June. 



1 These may very possibly have been younfi Barrow Goklen-eyes (G. islandica). 



l8l7 



