. The wild fowl of the United States and British possessions : or, The swan, geese, ducks, and mergansers of North America . tand severe cold. The Golden Eye breeds in the hol-lows of trees, the entrance often appearing to be absurdlysmall for the size of the Duck, but like other web-footedtree-nesting species it finds no difficulty in entering itschosen abode. The eggs are a pale grayish green color,and from six to eight seem to be the full beautiful Duck is known to many as the Whistler,and beside this name it is called Spirit Duck, WhistleWing, WhifBer, Great Head, Bull Head
. The wild fowl of the United States and British possessions : or, The swan, geese, ducks, and mergansers of North America . tand severe cold. The Golden Eye breeds in the hol-lows of trees, the entrance often appearing to be absurdlysmall for the size of the Duck, but like other web-footedtree-nesting species it finds no difficulty in entering itschosen abode. The eggs are a pale grayish green color,and from six to eight seem to be the full beautiful Duck is known to many as the Whistler,and beside this name it is called Spirit Duck, WhistleWing, WhifBer, Great Head, Bull Head, and Plongeurin Louisiana. Its principal appellation, of Whistler, isgiven on account of the shrill noise the wings makewhen the bird is flying; a sound so sharp and penetratingthat the species is indicated long before it comes clearlyinto view. The Golden Eye rises directly from the water, but notwith a spring like the Mallard or Dusky Duck, flying lowat first, but rapidly rising until it has attained a loftyaltitude, when it moves on in a straight line, and, fromthe first motion made to leave the water, the loud 176. GOLDRy EVE. l^J whistle of the wings is heard. Tlie \\1iistler is a highflyer, and upon the sea-eoast pays but httle attention todecoys, ahhough it will occasionally come to them. It isgenerally seen singly or in pairs, the male frequentlyleading the female, though at times their positions arereversed as is usually the case with Ducks when travelingin pairs, but in the interior small flocks are not uncom-mon, especially upon the rivers, which are much fre-quented by this species. The large thickly crested orrather fluf¥y head of this Duck is beautifully resplendentwith metallic green hues, particularly noticeable whenthe suns rays fall upon it, the brighter portions contrast-ing with those in shadow% like brilliant emeralds lying ondark green velvet. The Indians along the River Yukonstuff the skin of this Duck and ornament it with beads,and give it to a child f
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectgameandgamebirds
