Golden-Eye 
on the part of the bird. It always proceeded to a depth of 8 to lo feet of water, and began 
to dive. On reaching the bottom, it at once commenced to turn the stones over with the 
bill, and from under these, various water-insects were found or caught as they attempted to 
escape. Sometimes it would find a small batch of young freshwater mussels, and these it 
would devour very quickly one after the other, like a duck taking grain out of a pan. It never 
stayed under water more than a minute even when finding food abundant in one spot, but 
came up, rested a moment or two on the surface, and dived again. All food was swallowed 
where it was found, and small pebbles and fairly large stones were pushed over in the 
search. Several times I saw the bird just move a flat stone. It would go all round it and 
try it from every point. If unsuccessful it would come to the surface and rest awhile, and 
then go down again for another effort. In a lake the Golden-Eye will dive in perpendicular 
position, but in flowing water it dives in a slant against the stream or tideway. Their bodies 
are very light, and bounce up to the surface like a cork immediately they cease to push down- 
wards with the feet. In still water the Golden-Eye often dives in circles to get to the 
bottom. 
Their food consists principally of salt and fresh water mussels, water-snails, species of 
crabs, fish, frogs, tadpoles, and water-insects of many kinds. They are also said to eat the 
roots and seeds of certain water-plants, but of this I have neither seen nor heard of direct 
proof. On the sea I have only found the remains of crabs, mussels, and other shell-fish 
mixed with quantities of coarse sand and small stones. In a small pond they will soon 
catch all the small fish, if no species of Mergus are kept there. 
In the sea I have watched them diving in water that must have been i8 to 20 feet in 
depth, but I should doubt if they are able to stay under water at a greater depth, that 
is to say, if there is any tideway. In confinement they can be " fed-off " on to bread- 
crumbs and grain, which, with such natural food as they may obtain on a pond, will 
suffice to keep them in health for some time, but this somewhat unnatural diet always tells 
against them in the course of a few years, and this is probably the reason why so few live 
for any length of time in confinement, or show a desire to pair. When fed on " crissel " and 
other mealy products, with a regular supply of fish, &c., they always thrive better and 
live longer. 
Their flight at first starting is somewhat clumsy. They rise after a short run along 
the water, but once in the air they proceed with much speed and buoyancy. When flying 
over water they move at a normal height, but when going long journeys or passing over 
land, they get up to considerable elevation, especially in still weather. If on feed, they 
are somewhat unwilling to fly and swim away fast, but if in some place where they know 
gunners are about they rise freely, and generally far out of shot. The flight is accompanied 
by a pleasant " singing" or " ringing " sound, that can be heard at a considerable distance on 
a clear day or night, and is produced by the manner in which the front primaries are held 
and beaten in flight. 
No ducks are more bold in the " headers " they will take from the clouds when pursued 
by a raptorial bird. I was collecting birds one day in February 1882 on Loch Leven, the 
Inverness-shire sea loch, when I heard the sound of Golden-Eye, accompanied by a peculiar 
hum of something passing through the air. On looking up I was just in time to see 
the interesting spectacle of a Peregrine making a stoop at three Golden-Eyes. The ducks 
