xlviii PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
9th May, 1889. 
F. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S., F.E.S., Pres’dent, 
in the Chair. 
J. Stewart, Kinfauns; Miss Chisholm; R. B. Belfrage, C.L-, 
Bridge of Earn; Mrs. Brown, R. Strawbridge, P. Dow, and H. 
Jameson were elected Ordinary Members. 
The following donation was intimated :— 
Museum—Perthshire Collection .—Golden Eagle—from The Earl 
of Mansfield. 
Dr. Buchanan White read the following Notes :— 
Golden-Eye (Clangula glaucion). — For about a year a Golden- 
Eye Drake has been inhabiting the Tay, below Perth Bridge, and 
is no doubt known to many of you. Since this species is a winter 
visitant only to this country, the presence on the Tay of one during 
the whole year is of interest, though in this case the bird does not 
remain here voluntarily, but from inability to fly on account of a 
broken wing. 
The Golden-Eye is one of the diving ducks, and visits our coasts 
and estuaries, and also inland lakes, from October to April, feeding 
on small aquatic animals, such as mollusks, &c. In its distribution 
it is circumpolar, and never leaves its northern home so long as there 
is any piece of water unfrozen, since it seems able to withstand a 
greater amount of cold than most other species. Its nest is said to 
have been found in Sutherlandshire, but the record is very doubtful. 
In Norway and Lapland, where (and in other northern regions) it 
breeds, it makes its nests in holes in trees, often 12 or 15 feet from 
the ground, and is said to carry its young to the water by holding 
them between its bill and its neck. The Laplanders place boxes in 
the trees for the ducks to lay in, and though the eggs are repeatedly 
taken the birds go on laying. As an article of food the Golden-Eye 
is worthless. Our friend at the bridge spends a good deal of his 
time in company with the gulls at the outlet of the lade, where he 
seems to pick up a living sufficient to keep him in good condition. 
When the water is sufficiently clear, and he is near enough the bridge, 
his agility in diving and his actions under water are interesting to 
watch. When not on the outlook for food he often rests on some of 
the gravel banks, or paddles gently along the shore of the island. 
At other times he may be seen lying lazily on one side on the water 
in places where there is not much current, keeping himself in position 
by paddling with one foot. Though usually not far from the bridge, 
he occasionally makes excursions as far down as the County Buildings, 
but never, I think, ventures up above the bridge. Where our friend 
sleeps I am not sure; perhaps on some of the gravel banks, or 
possibly on the water. When the river was in spate, and the island 
covered, he disappeared altogether; but one day, when the island 
was beginning to reappear, I saw him making a desperate effort to 
reach it from the east bank, but the current was too strong, and after 
