cc Anatids;. BIRDS. ANAiiDiE. 
of Api'il, being tlien on their passage to the north 
to breed. 'I’liey are said to build, like the Wood 
Duck, in trees. The Golden-Eye is nineteen inches 
in length, and twenty-nine in extent of wing, and 
has tlie singular conformation of windpipe seen in 
the last-named, with more irregular development. 
BARROW’S GOLDEN-EYE [B. islandica), called, 
also, the Hocky Mountain Garrox, is found all 
through North America, northerly; south to New 
York and Utah, Greenland and Icelaml ; also in 
Europe. Dr. Coues says it probably breeds in the 
Rocky Mountains of the United States. 'J’he same 
authority says : “Notwithstanding the doubt which 
has been cast by myself, among others, regarding 
this bird, it appears, nevertheless, to be a valid 
sjiecies ; the differences pointed out being apparent- 
ly constant, as well as ajipreciable, and there being, 
moreover, certain anatomical [)eculiarities in the form 
of tlie skull, of whicli 1 only lately have become 
aware. Originally described in 1788, and subse- 
quently re-named and figured in 1831. The species 
was ignored by Audubon, who mistook it for the 
summer plumage of the common Golden-Eye. It is 
the most northerly species of the genus, having 
probably a circumpolar distribution, breeding only 
(?) in high latitudes, and penetrating but a limited 
distance south in winter. Its claim to a place in its 
present connection rests upon its occurrence in the 
Rocky Mountains, and as far south as Utah, where 
it was procured by M. H. W. llenshaw. On the east 
it occurs as far south, in winter, as New Y’ork.” 
DIPPER; BUFELE-HEAD [B. albeola).—'\'\\\s 
species — called, also, the Botter baij, and Spirit 
Duck, the latter name from its quick movements 
when diving — inhabits the whole of North America, 
chieHy coastwise, northerly, and moving south in 
winter to Mexico and Cuba. It breeds in the Turtle 
Mountains of United States. Wilson says it is com- 
mon to the sea-shores, rivers and lakes of the United 
States in every quarter of the country during au- 
tumn and winter. 'I'he Buffle-head, or Buffalo-head, 
so called from its disj)roportionately-sized head, is 
fourteen inches in length, and twenty-three inches in 
extent of wing. The bill is short, of a light blue, or 
leaden color. 'I'he plumage of the head and half of 
the neck is tliick, long and velvety, projecting great- 
ly over the lower part of the neck. 'I’his plumage 
on the forehead and nape is rich glossy green, chang- 
ing into a shining purple on the sides and crown. 
Erom the eyes backwards passes a broad band of 
pure white; iris of the eye, dark; back, wings, and 
jjurt of the scapulars, black ; rest of scapulars, lateral 
band along the wing, and whole breast, snowy white ; 
belly, vent, and tail coverts, dusky white ; tail point- 
ed, and of a hoary color. 'I'he female is less than the 
male, and destitute of the tumid plumage of the head. 
HARLEQUIN DUCK {Histrionic us torquatus) is 
found in North America, northerly, and mostly coast- 
wise, moving southward to the Middle States and 
California in winter. The male of this species is 
called, in New England, lord; the female, lady ; 
probably, as Wilson says, from the elegant crescents 
and circles of white which ornament the neck and 
breast. Though an inhabitant of botli continents, 
little else is known of its particular manners than 
that it swims and dives well, flies swift and to a 
great height ; has a whistling note, and is said to 
frequent the small rivulets inland from Hudson’s 
Bay, where it breeds. The female lays ten white 
eggs on the grass, and the young are prettily speckled. 
It is found on the eastern continent as far south as 
Lake Baikal, and thence to Kamtschatka, and was 
also met with in Iceland. At Hudson’s Bay it is 
called Painted Duck. Coues says it breeds in the 
Northern Rocky Mountains. In August, 1874, he 
found broods there still unable to fly. 
OLD-WIFE {Harelda glacialis). — This is the most 
common and familiar bird of the tribe that visits the 
New England Coast in winter. It is also known by 
the names Long-tailed Duck, and in Chesapeake 
Bay as South-southerly, its cry being said to re- 
semble the sound of those words. It is chiefly a salt- 
water species, and seldom rambles far from the sea, 
inhabiting our bays and coasts in winter only. It is 
rarely found in marshes, but frequents the channels, 
diving for small shell-fish, which are its principal 
food. In passing to and from the bays, sometimes 
in large flocks, jiarticularly towards evening, their 
loud and confused voices may be heard, in fair 
weather, at the distance of several miles. 'I’hey fly 
very swiftly, take short excursions, and are lively, 
restless birds. Their native regions are in the north, 
where great numbers of them remain during the 
whole year, part only of the vast family migrating 
south to avoid the severest rigors of that climate. 
'I'liey are common to the whole northern hemisphere. 
In the Orkneys they are met with in considerable 
flocks, from October to April ; frequent in Sweden, 
Lapland and Russia, and are often found about St. 
Petersburg. They are said to breed in Hudson’s 
Bay, making their nests among the grass near the 
sea, like the Eider Duck, and about the middle of 
June lay their eggs. When the young are hatched, 
the mother carries the young to the water in her bill. 
The nest is lined with the down of her breast, which 
is accounted equally valuable with that of the Eider 
Duck. They are hardy birds and excellent divers. 
Their flesh is not esteemed, being too fishy in flavor. 
The length is twenty-two inches, and in extent of 
wing thirty. The windpipe is very curiously formed ; 
besides the labyrinth, which is nearly as large as 
the end of your thumb, it has an expansion above 
that of double the usual diameter, which continues 
for an inch and a half; this is flattened on the side 
next the breast, with an oblong, window-like vacancy 
in it, curved with five narrow bars, aud covered with 
a thin transparent skin, like the panes of a window ; 
another thin skin of the same kind is spread over 
the external side of the labyrinth, which is partly of 
a circular form. 'I'his singular conformation is, as 
usual, peculiar to the male. 
LABRADOR DUCK {Ganvptolmnus labradorius ). — 
The habitat of this Duck is considered to have been 
the north-eastern coast of North America, not far- 
ther south than New Jersey. It is considered to be 
extinct, as no specimens are now obtained. 
