THE GOLDEN-EYE DUCK. 
155 
so that the experienced fowler will rarely bestow time on the 
pursuit. 
A wild-fowl shooter, who spent the first week of March 1847 
at Strangford Lough, following his vocation, saw this species 
only of the diving ducks. They appeared, at low water, about the 
rivers which take their course through the shallower parts of the 
lough, and at high water came from the lough proper into the 
sandy inland bays on the surface of the flowing tide. They are 
often called here fresh-water wigeon. Popping wigeon is a name 
for them (and the red-breasted merganser) in Drogheda Bay;* — - 
the golden-eye “pops” down or dives so suddenly, that the 
adjunct is very characteristic. 
As the golden-eye seems to have a partiality for fresh- water, it 
is, as may be expected, a constant inhabitant of Lough Neagh 
during its sojourn in Ireland. On this vast lake, and on the 
river Main, which joins it after flowing through Shanes-Castle 
Park, where its banks are most richly and beautifully wooded, I 
have seen splendid adult males to perfection, and, in addition to 
their personal beauty, have been attracted by the fine ringing 
sound of their pinions through the air. That some idea might 
be formed of the relative numbers of different kinds of ducks 
shot on Lough Neagh, I engaged a man living on its banks, 
who brought them on sale to Belfast, to call on me regu- 
larly with his stock, during two or three winters. In this manner 
I ascertained that more of the golden-eye were procured there 
than of any species : among those brought frequently from the 
5th of November to the 6th of April (the earliest and latest 
dates) were several adult males. The other kinds were tufted 
ducks, pochards, wigeon, wild ducks, teal, pintails, and goosanders ; 
but one individual only of each of the last two species. The 
golden eye is commonly shot here from the beach after the manner 
described by Colonel Hawker and Sir William Jardine. To use 
the words of the former author — “ If you see a single curre 
* Mr. R. J. Montgomery. 
