﻿GOLDEN EYE. 



16.9 



great distance below the surface of the water ; and when on 

 the wing, and pursued by birds of prey, it has the capacity 

 of shooting down from the air into the water and disappear- 

 ing instantaneously below its surface. 



The Golden Eye may always be distinguished during the 

 night from other ducks, when on the wing, in consequence 

 of the peculiar sound that is produced by the formation of 

 the first five primary quill-feathers, which are more sinuated 

 than in any other species, and the sound resembles nothing 

 so much as that of small tin bells, shaken in the hand, such 

 as those attached to young children's toys : in consequence 

 of this sound the duck in question has obtained in some 

 parts of the Continent the name of Bell-Duck. On the Con- 

 tinent the sound of small bells here alluded to is familiar to 

 every ear, as they are constantly used on sledges and other 

 vehicles that travel on the snow, in order to give warning of 

 their otherwise noiseless approach ; indeed so necessary is it 

 that such warning should be given, in order to prevent any 

 accident by collision, that the use of these small tinkling 

 bells is enforced in some countries by legislative enact- 

 ments. 



The present species is very shy, and consequently rarely 

 seen by others than sportsmen ; its call-note resembles that 

 of the wild duck in expression, but the hoarseness of the rook 

 in sound. 



The food of the Golden Eye consists in shell-fish, water- 

 snails, small fry, frogs and frog spawn, and also aquatic 

 vegetable productions, their roots, buds, and seeds, accord- 

 ing to the season and the locality it frequents ; its flesh is 

 considered more or less fit for the table, according to the taste 

 of the inhabitants of the country and place where the bird 

 is obtained. 



The chief numbers of the Golden Eye retire to northern 



