B 
84 British Diving Ducks 
coverts white, with grey markings ; the wings are the distinguishing feature of the imma- 
ture, and have no white on median coverts, which are grey; secondaries and secondary 
coverts white, the rest of the wing brownish black. Feet and legs similar to adults, only 
not so rich in colour ; bill, bluish black, with no yellow spot behind the black nail. 
The young female alters very little until March, when the white collar on the neck 
appears. After this the plumage advances very slowly, and only on the upper part of the 
back, mantle, and chest. The principal character of immaturity, namely the wings, do not 
change until the full moult, which takes place in late July, August, and early in September. 
At the end of this month the immature female becomes adult, namely at fifteen months. 
After gaining the yellow bill-spot in March the immature female loses this mark in June, 
the bill being a uniform lead blue. The yellow spot is not regained until October. Length, 
17 inches ; wing, 8 inches ; tail, 4.50 inches ; tarsus, 1.40 inches. 
A dult Female. — The head is a rich umber brown, separated by a collar of white, which 
is incomplete at the back of the neck, from the grey shoulders ; chest grey, edged with 
white ; the mantle and back is blackish brown, edged with glossy grey ; scapulars dark 
brown, edged with white ; back, tail, dark brown, turning to black on the sides of the upper 
tail-coverts ; flanks and thighs, dark brown, edged with white ; wing-coverts, black ; the 
upper portion of the wings are brown, edged with grey ; the median coverts white ; lower 
median coverts blackish brown, with white tips ; secondary coverts white, with black ends ; 
secondaries white, with one black and white feather next to the primaries ; primaries, dark 
brown. Total length, 17I to 18 inches ; wing, 8 inches ; bill, 1.25 inches, bluish-black, with 
full yellow spot round the nail ; tarso-metarsus, i inch ; legs and feet yellow, with blackish 
webs ; irides a paler yellow than the male, but bright in spring. 
Breeding Range. 
British Isles. — There seems to be no particular reason why this species does not 
breed with us, but it is clear that up to the present the evidence that it has done so is not 
satisfactory. 
England. — A pair are said to have bred on Swinsley Reservoir in 1891, one of the young 
being captured and the old female placed in the collection of the Leeds Naturalists' Club. 
It is also said to have bred at Fewston Reservoir in 1895 (Birds of Yorks, ii. p. 471 (pi.) ; 
ZooL, 1895, p. 449). The Hon. Edward Lascelles kindly sends me the following note (Nov. 
10, 191 1): "I am convinced that Golden-Eyes bred at my father's place, Harewood, Yorks, 
some years ago (1899 or 1900). My father turned out a number of pinioned Golden-Eye, 
and all were killed by foxes except one female, which lived there for many years. One 
season an old male, whom I saw repeatedly throughout the breeding season, came and 
stayed throughout the summer, and according to our keeper bred with the female. The 
nest was never found, probably owing to his not searching the trees, but the young were 
seen with the female, and all were soon destroyed by pike or rats. Personally I think our 
head keeper's observations are absolutely to be trusted." 
Scotland. — A. G. More (Ibis, 1865, p. 447) reports, on the authority of W. Dunbar, that 
a nest was found in a hollow larch on Loch Assynt. Saxby (Birds of Sketlands, p. 263) 
states that he saw a female and four young ones on the Loch of Belmont, and had eggs, 
supposed to be of this species, brought to him. These records are, however, not accepted as 
satisfactorily proved by the authors of the Vert. Fauna of Shetland. I find in my northern 
