its appearance that I examined it long and earnestly through my glasses, with the result that I allowed it to escape; but the second I saw was promptly secured.
This discovery of the breeding of what has hitherto been considered a strictly American bird in Europe will certainly be a subject of great interest not only to ornithologists here, but to those of America, and the Continent as well; and will certainly strengthen the hitherto somewhat shaky position of the species as a British bird. As will be gathered from the foregoing, I brought back adult male and female, and three downy young. I am having a plate prepared, which will show at a glance how to distinguish between the female and young male of this bird and the Common Wigeon.
Scaup, Fuligula marila. (Dúkönd.)—One of the commonest ducks. I found the nesting-sites and the nest of this duck to vary to a most remarkable extent. One nest was built up from the bottom of the lake, until the top was brought under the shelter of a mass of large leaves of the marsh-marigold. The mass of vegetable-matter and mud used would have filled a large wheelbarrow. I brought the top portion and the eggs away.[1] I got adult females, plenty of downy young, nests, eggs, and down.
Barrow's Golden-eye, Clangula islandica. (Húsönd.)—Very common in some districts. All writers, even to the latest, on this handsome duck intimate that it is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish between the female of this and our Golden-eye (C. glaucion). In the very first couple of these birds I shot—they were the first I had ever handled—I noticed a peculiarity of structure which I had never seen in any duck before, and one which would certainly instantly distinguish between the female or young male and our bird; it is also present in the downy young. I procured an unusually large series of females to satisfy myself that the character was permanent, and on my return examined a good series of females of our bird. I am having a plate prepared, showing these distinctive characters. I gathered much very interesting information concerning these birds. I brought back adult males (summer and winter), adult females, plenty of downy young, eggs, and down.
Long-tailed Duck, Harelda glacialis. (Hávella.)—The commonest breeding duck everywhere. I got adult male in eclipse dress, adult females, plenty of downy young, eggs, and down.
Harlequin Duck, Cosmonetta histrionica. (Straumönd.)—This magnificent duck is common on most of the wild rapid rivers. The
- ↑ In the nest was a tiny egg, which the Icelanders averred was the last the bird would ever lay.
