GOLDEN-EYE. 
83 
lakes and rivers of the interior. It associates in small parties, 
and may easily be known by the vigorous whistling of its 
wings as it passes through the air. It swims and dives well, 
but seldom walks on shore, and then in a waddling, awkward 
manner. Feeding chiefly on shell-fish, small fry, &c., their flesh 
is less esteemed than that of the preceding. In the United 
States they are only winter visitors, leaving us again in the 
month of April, being then on their passage to the north to 
breed. They are said to build, like the wood duck, in hollow 
trees. 
The golden-eye is nineteen inches long, and twenty-nine 
and rivers. On the latter, they may he generally found near the head or foot of 
the stream, diving incessantly for the spawn of salmon, with which I have often 
found their stomach filled. The party generally consists of from four to ten, and 
they dive together. At this time, it is not very difficult to approach them, by 
running forward while they are under water, and squatting when they rise. I 
have often, in this way, come to the very edge of the river, and awaited the ari- 
sing of the flock. When taken by surprise, they dive on the instant of the first 
shot, but rise and fly immediately after. 
The young of the first year has been made a nominal species, and is some- 
what like the adult females, hut always distinguished by larger size, darker co- 
lour of the plumage of the head, and the greater proportion of white on the 
wings. The males have the white spot on the cheek perceptible about the first 
spring, and the other parts of the plumage proportionally distinct. Among most 
of the flocks which visit our rivers in winter, it is rare to find more than one 
full plumaged male in each, sometimes not more than two or three are seen du- 
ring the winter among fifty or sixty immature birds. 
The American ducks belonging to this group are C. vulgaris albeola and C. 
Barrovii, or Rocky Mountain garrot, a new species, discovered by the overland 
Arctic expedition, and described and figured in the Northern Zoology. The fol- 
lowing is the description ; it has only yet been found in the valleys of the Rocky 
Mountains. 
“ Notwithstanding the general similarity in the form and markings of this 
bird, and the common golden-eye, the difference in their bills evidently points 
them out to be a distinct species. The Rocky Mountain garrot is distinguished 
by the pure colour of its dorsal plumage, and the smaller portion of white on its 
wings and scapulars ; its long flank feathers are also much more broadly bordered 
all round with black. The bases of the greater coverts in the golden-eye are 
black ; but they are concealed, and do not form the black band so conspicuous 
in this species.” The total length of a male brought home by the expedition 
was twenty-two inches in length. — Ed. 
