is, I believe, but one person who has actually witnessed the manner—the clergyman at Quickiock, in Lulean
Lapmark, near the source of that chain o f vast lakes whence the Lulea river flows, who was once a witness,
and who, while botanizing by the side of the lake near Quickiock, where the bird breeds in great numbers,
saw a Golden-eye drop into the water, and at the same instant a young one appear 5 after watching
some time, and seeing the bird fly backwards and forwards from the nest five times, he was enabled to perceive
that the young bird was held under the bill, and supported by the neck o f the parent.”
The advantage taken by the natives of Lapland and Finmark o f the bird’s habit o f laying its eggs in the
holes o f trees and similar situations is mentioned by nearly every writer on the natural history o f those
countries. Linnaeus, when near Lycksele, had his attention drawn to the cylinders o f wood, closed at top
and bottom, and with an aperture on one side, which were placed on the highest pari: o f the loftiest fir trees,
in order to tempt the wild ducks to lay their eggs in them. Mr. Wheelwright mentions that he always
took the eggs from the holkar, or tubs set up in trees, or from the hollows o f trees themselves, and never from
the ground ; and Pastor Sommerfeldt informs us, in his ‘List of Birds observed in East Finmark,’ translated
by Mr. H. E. Dresser, that, in order to obtain possession in the easiest manner o f the eggs o f this bird, the
Lapps put up, along the Tana river and in the woods, hollow trees about two ells high, with a hole in the side.
When the bird has discontinued laying, they empty the nest. Occasionally the cavity chosen is so small
that it would seem impossible for a Duck to enter it. Mr. Hewitson mentions one, observed by him in
Norway, that was about twelVe feet from the ground and about a foot in diameter inside, with an entrance so
narrow as hardly to admit the hand.
The Golden-eyes, “ like most o f our Ducks,” says Macgillivray, “ betake themselves to the Arctic regions,
whence they return in autumn, making their appearance in the beginning o f October, and continuing to
increase in number until the winter has fairly set in, when they are met with in all parts o f the country, from
Shetland and Orkney on the one side, and Lewis Island on the other, to the southern extremity of England.
In Ireland, also, they are regular winter visitants. It is chiefly to lakes, pools, and rivers that they resort.'
But, although essentially lake-ducks, they often, especially in frosty weather, resort to estuaries, as well as
the open coasts, where they procure testaceous mollusca, Crustacea, and fishes.”
“ Owing to the pied appearance o f the males, the Golden-eyes make a fine show on the water, and especially
on those dull dark pools o f the North Highlands and Hebrides of which the surrounding scenery ¡s
dismal enough at all seasons, but especially in winter. When undisturbed, they float lightly, but if alarmed
have the faculty of sinking deeper, swim with great speed, dive instantaneously, and are active and lively in
all their movements,” except on land, where, Mr. Selby states, it “ proceeds in a shuffling ungainly manner,
from the backward position o f its legs and the great size o f its feet.-” ;«'They fly with rapidity, and in a
direct manner ; their small, stiff, sharp-pointed wings producing a whistling sound, which, in calm weather,
may be heard at a considerable distance. I f shot at while feeding, they dive, and appear, after a considerable
interval, at a great distance; but, owing to their vigilance and activity, it is difficult to g et near them, although
when without a gun, I have several times been allowed to approach within shooting-distance, and on such
occasions they merely swim slowly away. In rising from the water, they strike it with their feet and wings
to the distance of several yards; but on occasions they can rise at a single effort, especially when there is a
breeze.
“ The females and young are greatly more numerous, in proportion to the males, in the southern parts of
the country; and in the northern, flocks are sometimes seen composed entirely o f males. It is said that
in their southward migration, the males advance first, the young remaining a considerable time behind
the females; and in proceeding northward, the males again take the lead, being several days in advance.!!"
Mr. Wheelwright states that “ the egg o f the Golden-eye varies very much in colour and size • and it is
remarked by the old settlers, who watch the habits of the bird closely (for its eggs afford them a good supply
of food), that the old birds always lay the fewest, finest, and largest eggs,” How many eggs are deposited at
a laying does not appear to have been correctly ascertained : from five to ten would seem to be the normal
number; they are of a beautiful pale pea-green, and are two inches and three-eighths in length by one inch
and five-eighths in breadth.
Few Ducks present so great a contrast in the size and colouring of the sexes as the male and female of
the present species; irrespective of the difference in their plumage, the latter may always be distinguished
from the former by the eye being pale straw-yellow instead o f a rich golden. In all probability the old males
after the breeding-season, change their brilliant plumage o f winter to one closely assimilating to that o f th^
female, and again assume it late in the autumn. The young males closely resemble the females.
The Plate represents a male and a female o f the size o f life, with reduced figures o f two males in the re-
markable attitude above described.