GOLDEN-EYE 311 



Early autumn migrants appear in little bunches of four or five to eight or ten and 

 the adults straggle along later in small lots, often as singles and twos and threes. 



Griscom (1922-23) thinks that this species rises from the water as rapidly and 

 steeply as a Black Duck (Anas rubripes). This is giving them just a little too much 

 athletic ability. They can get away at a rather good angle if they are facing a strong 

 breeze but the test comes, of course, in flat-calm weather when any one can see that 

 they have to drag their feet and "spatter their wings" for a few yards at least. 



The loud humming or whistling noise, which is heard best in still, frosty weather, 

 is familiar to all. Naturalists may offer their various explanations as to the use or 

 origin of this peculiar sound, but I do not think they come very near any adequate 

 explanation. It is associated partly with sex, for the narrowed web on the last two 

 primaries is a male characteristic. Mayhoff (1918) has paid particular attention to 

 this wing-whistle of the Golden-eyes and he concludes that it is loudest in the male, 

 much less, although present in old females and young males of the year, and absent 

 in young females up to the first wing-moult. I have often noticed the difference in 

 intensity of the wing-whistle and I certainly associated the loudest sounds with 

 spring flocks on our ponds, perhaps because there is then a much larger proportion 

 of old males. I doubt whether this sound has anything to do with courtship, or 

 indeed with a special signalling apparatus such as has been suggested. Old males 

 can be heard under the proper conditions for a mile or two, possibly more. 



Association with other Species. This is an independent and very unsociable 

 bird along our coasts. Writers have spoken of them as not associating with any 

 other ducks and this is practically true. One sees them mixed with Scaup and Buffle- 

 head during the winter, but never intimately, and such grouping seems purely acci- 

 dental. On migration they stick closely to their own kind, or scorning company, 

 strike out boldly for themselves. T. Pleske (1878) mentioned a Golden -eye nesting 

 in the same tree which was occupied higher up by a Sea Eagle! Competition for 

 good breeding hollows very frequently results in several females placing their eggs 

 in the same nest. In Maine, the Hooded Merganser has used this duck's nest, 

 mingling its eggs with the Golden-eye's (Brewster, 1900) and in northern Europe it 

 is possible that the Smew may do the same thing occasionally. 



Brewster (1924) noticed how at Lake Umbagog, Maine, the young broods broke 

 up naturally very early in the season, even before they could fly so that a tendency 

 to unsociability begins far sooner than in most ducks. 



Voice. Although I have hundreds of times heard the female give vent to her 

 unattractive harsh croak I never until recently heard the courtship note of the 

 male, which is given only in the spring (see under Courtship and Nesting) and during 

 active display. It was well described by Brewster (1911) as "a short flat vibrant 



