250 GOLDEN EVE. 



of the gun before the shot has time to reach them, even when within a very few 

 yards. Mr. Yarrell states that on such occasions one bird always remains up as sentinel. 

 This may have been the case in some locality where they were much disturbed, as we 

 believe the above is their more usual mode of proceeding. 



The food consists of small fish, shell-fish of various species, cray-fish, and all the 

 smaller Crustacea that fall in its way. Minute entomostraca and leeches, seeds and 

 vegetable matters, when it is feeding inland, are also found in the stomach; and sand 

 or gravel is always present. 



The nest of the Golden Eye is placed in the hole of a tree. When in Norway, Mr. 

 Hewitson found one in the abandoned hole of the Great Black Woodpecker, (Picus 

 martius,) twelve feet from the ground. The opening was so small, that the hand could 

 hardly be introduced. The lining was the bird's own down. 



The eggs are green, and measure two inches and three-eighths in length, by one inch 

 and five-eighths in breadth. 



In the adult male the bill is bluish black; irides, golden yellow. Head and upper 

 part of neck, glossy green, the feathers erectile; behind the base of the bill is an oval 

 white patch, very conspicuous, even in flight; chin, black; back and tertials, black; 

 scapulars, white, edged with black. Tail, dusky black; primaries, black; secondaries, 

 white. Wing coverts, black at base, white at the ends; lower neck, breast, belly, and 

 vent, white; flanks, dusky. Legs and feet, orange; webs, dusky. 



The. female is less in size than the male. Bill, brown, orange at the tip; head and 

 neck, brown, with a collar of white below; breast, gray; under parts, white; the upper 

 parts are dusky. The white on the wings less clear than in the male, being mixed 

 with brown. 



Young males are much like the females, but are larger, and the rudiments of the 

 white patch on the cheek may be seen. 



The male weighs about two pounds and a quarter. 



He measures nineteen inches in length. 



The female measures two inches less. 



