THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
found plentifully in Scandinavia up to 70° N. latitude, and thence across 
Russia and throughout Siberia ; while southwards it is met with 
sparingly in North Germany and in Russia south to about 58°. In winter 
it visits the rest of Europe, and in severe seasons reaches North Africa 
and the Western Mediterranean; also the Black and Caspian Seas, Asia 
Minor, Persia, Upper India, China and Japan. In North America it breeds 
from Alaska to Ungava and Newfoundland, and southwards to Montana 
and New York, and ranges south in winter to Mexico, Florida and Cuba. 
The American bird has been separated as C. americana, on account of 
its slightly larger size. 
Distribution in the British Isles . — To the coasts of the British Isles this 
duck is a regular visitor, generally distributed during the colder months 
from October onwards, and immature birds sometimes remain till May. 
It frequents lakes, rivers and tidal estuaries, females and immature birds 
being much more commonly met with than adult males. 
Nest and eggs . — The golden-eye nests in hollow trees, often in old 
nesting -holes of the black woodpecker, and deposits its eggs on wood- 
chips, The down is pale lavender-grey with paler centres. It seems to 
prefer the vicinity of running water in choosing a nesting site. The eggs, 
laid in May and June, are from ten to twelve or more in number, and 
vary in colour from deep green to greyish -green. They measure about 
2 '3 inches by 1*65 inches. 
Like its allies, this species is an expert diver, and feeds on various aquatic 
plants, “sea -grass,” molluscs, insects, and crustaceans, and occasionally 
on small fishes. Its flight is very noisy, hence its name of “ Rattle -wing ” 
or “Whistler.” 
Wild hybrids between this species and the smew and hooded merganser 
are known to occur. 
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