GOLDEN-EYE. 



477 



lakes and rivers of the interior. It associates in small parties, 

 and may easily be known by the vigorous whistling of its 



thick plumage : the bill short, but thick and raised at the base ; the 

 feet placed far behind, and formed for swimming. The flight is short 

 and rapid. In habit, they delight more in lakes and rivers than the 

 sea ; are generally found in small flocks ; are very clamorous during the 

 breeding season, and feed on fish, aquatic insects, moluscee, &c. Richard- 

 son says, " Clangula vulgaris and albeola frequent the rivers and fresh- 

 water lakes throughout the Fur Countries in great numbers. They are 

 by no means shy, allowing the sportsman to approach sufficiently near ; 

 but dive so dexterously at the flash of a gun or the twang of a bow, 

 and are consequently so difficult to kill, that the natives say they are 

 endowed with some supernatural power. Hence their appellation of 

 "conjuring," or " spirit-ducks." 



In Britain, they are winter visitants, assembling in small parties on 

 the lakes and rivers. On the latter,, they may be generally found near 

 the head or foot of the stream, diving incessantly for the spawn of 

 salmon, with which I have often found their stomach filled. The 

 party generally consists of from four to ten, and they dive together. 

 At this time, it is not very difficult to approach them, by running for- 

 ward while they are under water, and squatting when they rise. I 

 have often, in this way, come to the very edge of the river, and 

 awaited the arising of the flock. When taken by surprise, they dive 

 on the instant of the first shot, but rise and fly immediately after. 



The young of the first year has been made a nominal species, and is 

 somewhat like the adult females, but always distinguished by larger 

 size, darker colour of the plumage of the head, and the greater propor- 

 tion of white on the wings. The males have the white spot on the 

 cheek perceptible about the first spring, and the other parts of the 

 plumage proportionally distinct. Among most of the flocks which visit 

 our rivers in winter, it is rare to find more than one full plumaged male 

 in each, sometimes not more than two or three are seen during the 

 winter among fifty or sixty immature birds. 



The American ducks belonging to this group are C: vulgaris, albeola, 

 and G. Barrovii, or Rocky Mountain garrot, a new species, discovered by 

 the Overland Arctic Expedition, and described and figured in the " North- 

 ern Zoology." The following is the description ; it has only yet been 

 found in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains. 



" Notwithstanding the general similarity in the form and markings 

 of this bird and the common golden-eye, the difference in their bills 

 evidently points them out to be a distinct species. The Rocky Moun- 

 tain garrot is distinguished by the pure colour of its dorsal plumage, and 

 the smaller portion of white on its wings and scapulars ; its long flank 

 feathers are also much more broadly bordered all round with black. 



