BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
45 
blackish, with slight greenish gloss on sides and the white loral patches are mottled 
with dusky) ; bill (dried skin) black ; legs yellowish ; iris orange-yellow ; lower 
neck under plumage generally, and middle and greater wing coverts, sides, inner 
secondaries, some of the scapular and tertial feathers white ; back, primaries inner 
scapulars and tertials black. Female has snufl-brown head, and no white loral 
spots — usually less white on wings. Length about 20 inches ; extent about 31 
inches. 
Habitat . — North America, breeding from Maine and the British Provinces north- 
ward ; in winter south to Cuba. 
This handsome bird, called, usually by sportsmen, Whistler, from the 
fact that when flying- its wings make a loud whistling sound, is a regu- 
lar and rather common spring and fall migrant, and in winter it is often 
seen about our large rivers and on Lake Erie. The Golden-eye, gener- 
ally shy and very difficult to approach, is an expert diver, and a par- 
ticularly rapid flyer. Feeding as it does, principally, on fish, Cray -fish, 
bivalves, etc., its flesh is usually fishy and very unpalatable. 
Genus CHARITONETTA Stejneoer. 
Charitonetta albeola (Linn.). 
Buffle-head. 
Description {Plate 60'). 
Bill much shorter than head. Feathers of hind head and upper part of short neck 
long and puffy (especially in male). 
Male . — Broad white patch on side of head back of eyes meeting its fellow behind ; 
rest of head and upper neck dark, with beautiful iridescent purple, green and 
violet hues ; ring around lower part of neck, sides and under plumage (lower part 
of abdomen is grayish) wing coverts, except the lesser and many of the second- 
aries, white, and back black ; upper tail coverts grayish-white ; upper surface of 
primaries glossy-black ; lining of wings brownish and white ; bill (dried skin) dull 
blue, legs brownish-yellow ; eyes brown. Length about 15 inches ; extent about 24 
inches. Female is smaller than male and feathers of sides and back of head shorter, 
and has head, neck and upper parts generally dark grayish-brown, with slight trace 
of white patches on sides of head, back of, but not reaching to eyes. 
Habitat . — North America ; south in winter to Cuba and Mexico. Breeds from 
Maine northward ; through the fur countries and Alaska. 
This beautiful little duck, commonly called Butter-ball, is frequently 
met with during migrations about our rivers and mill-ponds. The 
species is, however, much more common in autumn than during the 
winter and spring. The Buffle-head, like the Grebe and Loon, will dive 
at the flash of a gun and swim, it is said, under the water with only its 
bill above the surface. Audubon says : “ Their food is much varied, 
according to situation. On the sea-coast, or in estauries, they dive after 
shrimps, small fry and bivalve shells, and in fresh water they feed on 
small cray-fish, leeches and snails, and even grasses.” In the stomachs 
of five of these ducks, which I have examined, were found small shells 
and coleopterous insects. 
