any of the rest in the extent of its migrations. Braving the blasts
of the north, it visits the highest latitudes in spring, and returns
at the approach of winter, spreading over the whole country, as if
it seemed not to care in what region it spends its time, provided
it find abundance of water. Now propelling itself gaily, it may be
seen searching the pebbly or rocky bottom of the Ohio, or diving deep
in the broad bays of Massachusetts or the Chesapeake. Presently it
emerges with a cray-fish or a mussel held firmly in its bill. It shakes
its head, and over its flattened back roll the large pearly drops of
water, unable to penetrate the surface of its compact and oily plumage.
The food is swallowed, and the bird, having already glanced around,
suddenly plunges headlong. Happy being! Equally fitted for travelling
through the air and the water, and not altogether denied the pleasure
of walking on the shore; endowed with a cunning, too, which preserves
you from many at least of the attempts of man to destroy you; and
instinctively sagacious enough to place your eggs deep in the hollow of
a tree, where they are secure from the nocturnal prowler, and, amid the
down of your snowy breast, are fostered until the expected young come
forth. Then with your own bill you carry your brood to the lake, where
under your tender care they grow apace. The winged marauders, rapid as
their flight may be, cannot injure you there; for while your young ones
sink into the deep waters, you arise on whistling wings, and, swifter
than Jer Falcon, speed away.
In South Carolina the Golden-eye is abundant during winter, when it
at times frequents the reserves of the rice-planters. I have also met
with it on the water-courses of the Floridas at that season. From these
countries westward and northward, it may be found in all parts of the
Union where the waters are not frozen. It is seldom seen on small ponds
entirely surrounded by trees, but prefers open places, and on the Ohio
is generally found in the more rapid parts, on the eddies of which it
dives for food.
This species exhibits a degree of cunning which surpasses that of
many other Ducks, and yet at times it appears quite careless. When
I have been walking, without any object in view, along the banks of
the Ohio, between Shippingport and Louisville, I have often seen the
Golden-eyes, fishing almost beneath me, when, although I had a gun,
they would suffer me to approach within an hundred paces. But at other
times, if I crawled or hid myself in any way while advancing towards
them, with a wish to fire at them, they would, as if perfectly aware
of my intentions, keep at a distance of fully two hundred yards.
On the former occasion they would follow their avocations quite
unconcernedly: while on the latter, one of the flock would remain above
as if to give intimation of the least appearance of danger. If, in
the first instance, I fired my gun at them, they would all dive with
the celerity of lightning, but on emerging, would shake their wings as
if in defiance. But if far away on the stream, when I fired at them,
instead of diving, they would all at once stretch their necks, bend
their bodies over the water, and paddle off with their broad webbed
feet, until the air would resound with the smart whistling of their
wings, and away they would speed, quite out of sight, up the river.
In this part of the country, they are generally known by the name of
“Whistlers.”
I have observed that birds of this species rarely go to the shores to
rest until late in the evening, and even then they retire to secluded
rocks, slightly elevated above the surface, or to the margins of
sand-bars, well protected by surrounding waters. In either case, it
is extremely difficult for a man to get near them; but it is different
with the sly Racoon, which I have on several occasions surprised in the
dawn, feeding on one which it had caught under night. Yet, on some of
the bays of our sea-coasts, the Whistlers are easily enticed to alight
by the coarsest representations of their figures in wooden floats,
and are shot while they pass and repass over the place to assure
themselves that what they see is actually a bird of their own kind.
This mode is successfully followed in the Bay and Harbour of Boston in
Massachusetts, as well as farther to the eastward.
The Golden-eye is rarely if ever seen in the company of any other
species than those which are, like itself, expert divers; such, for
example, as the Mergansers, or the Buffel-headed Duck: and it is very
rare to see all the individuals of a flock immersed at once. Sometimes,
when suddenly surprised, they immediately dive, and do not rise again
until quite out of gun-shot. When wounded, it is next to impossible
to catch them; for their power of remaining under water is most
surprising, and the sooner one gives up the chase the better.
The Golden-eye Ducks manifest a propensity to adhere to a place which
they find productive, and that to a most extraordinary degree. One
day, while approaching the shallow fording-place of Canoe Creek, near
Henderson, in Kentucky, I observed five Whistlers fishing and swimming
about. They allowed me to advance to within a few yards of the shore,
when, swimming close together, and shaking their necks, they emitted
their rough croaking notes. Not being desirous of shooting them, I
slapped my hands smartly together, when in an instant they all went
down, but suddenly rose again, and running as it were over the water
for about ten yards, took flight, passed and repassed several times
over the ford, and alighted on the large branches of a sycamore that
hung over the creek, at no greater distance from where I stood than
about twenty yards. This was the first time in my life that I had
seen Golden-eyes alight on a tree. I waded to the opposite side, and
gazed upon them with amazement for several minutes. When on the eve
of pursuing my course, one of them, gliding downwards with nearly
closed wings, launched upon the water, and at once dived. The other
four followed one after another, somewhat in the manner of Pigeons
or Starlings, as if to ascertain whether some danger might not still
exist. I left them at their avocations, and soon after met a family of
country people going to Henderson, one of whom asked me respecting the
depth of the ford, to which I replied that the water was low, and added
that they should be careful lest some ducks that I had left there might
frighten the horses on which the women were. The good folks, with whom
I was acquainted, laughed, and we parted.
About four o’clock, as I was returning, with a fine Turkey-cock slung
to my back, I met the same party, who told me that, “sure enough,”
the ducks were at the ford, and I was likely to have “a good crack at
them.” There they were when I went up, and I forced them to fly off;
but as I was proceeding, and not more than fifty yards beyond the
creek, I heard their splashings as they again alighted. In the course
of a fortnight I visited the place several times, but never missed
finding these five ducks there. This led me to inquire as to the cause,
and, having undressed, I waded out barefooted, and examined the bottom,
which I found to be composed of rather hard blue clay, full of holes
bored by cray-fish. But to make myself quite sure that these creatures
formed the attraction to the Ducks, I watched an opportunity, and
shot two of the latter, the examination of which satisfied me on the
subject.
I had long before this been convinced, that an abundant supply of
food afforded a powerful attraction to migrating birds, and on this
subject you may remember my remarks in the articles of the Wild Turkey
and Passenger Pigeon, in the first volume of this work; but I had not
then, nor have I since, seen so strong an instance of pertinacity in
attachment to a particular spot.
The flight of this species is powerful, extremely rapid, and
wonderfully protracted. It passes along with a speed equal to that of
any of the Duck tribe, and I believe can easily traverse the space of
ninety miles in an hour. The whistling of its wings may be distinctly
heard when it is more than half a mile distant. This statement may
be found to be in contradiction to those of probably every previous
writer, for it has been a general opinion, that the greater the extent
of wing the more rapid is the flight, which is anything but correct.
On flying from the water, they proceed for a considerable distance very
low, not rising to any height until they have advanced several hundred
yards.
The only nest of the Golden-eye which I have examined, I discovered,
on the 15th of June, on the margin of a small creek about eight miles
from Green Bay. The female left it, probably to go in search of food,
whilst I was sitting under the tree in which it was, thinking more
of my peculiar situation than of birds of any kind, for I was almost
destitute of ammunition, and bent on returning to my family, then in
Louisiana. How exciting are such moments to the ardent observer of
Nature! In an instant, hunger, fatigue, even the thoughts of my beloved
wife and children, vanished; and in a few minutes I was safely lodged
on the tree, and thrusting my arm into the cavity of a large broken
branch. Nine beautiful, greenish, smooth eggs, almost equally rounded
at both ends, were at my disposal. They were laid on some dry grass of
the kind that grew on the edges of the creek, and were deeply imbedded
in the down of the bird. Not being then aware of the necessity of
measuring or keeping eggs, I roasted them on some embers, and finding
them truly delicious, soon satisfied my hunger. While I was eating
them, the bird returned, but no male was to be seen. Whether many of
these birds breed within the limits of the Union I cannot tell. Dr
RICHARDSON says they are abundant in the Fur Countries, and Dr TOWNSEND
states, that they are plentiful on the Rocky Mountains and along the
north-west coast of America.
Of the changes which the young males undergo, nothing is known beyond
the fact, that the young of both sexes resemble the adult female,
until the approach of the first spring, when their general migration
northward removes them from our observation.
At the approach of spring, I have observed this species swell the
throat and the feathers of the head, and emit their rough croaking
notes very frequently. The males at this period become very pugnacious,
though, after all, they remove northward together, preceding the
females for at least a fortnight. They usually spend the autumn and
the earlier parts of winter separate from the females. These birds
have, like the Goosanders, a habit of shaking their heads violently
on emerging from the water Their flesh is fishy, and in my opinion
unfit for being eaten, unless in cases of excessive hunger. The food of
this species, while on fresh water, consists of fish of various kinds,
mollusca, young frogs, tadpoles, crayfish, and, I believe, some kinds
of grass. When on salt water, they feed principally on bivalves and
fishes of different species.
ANAS CLANGULA, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 201.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 867. Male.
ANAS GLAUCION, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 201.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 867. Female and Young.
GOLDEN-EYE, ANAS CLANGULA, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith. vol. viii.
p. 62, pl. 67, fig. 6.
FULIGULA CLANGULA, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
United States, p. 393.
CLANGULA VULGARIS, COMMON GOLDEN-EYE, _Richards. and Swains._
Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 456.
COMMON GOLDEN-EYE, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol ii. p. 441.
Adult Male in winter. Plate CCCXLII. Fig. 1.
Bill shorter than the head, deeper than broad at the base, gradually
depressed toward the end, which is rounded. Upper mandible with the
dorsal line straight and sloping to the middle, then slightly concave,
and finally decurved; the ridge broad and rather concave at the base,
narrowed between the nostrils, convex towards the end, the frontal
angles long, the sides erect at the base, sloping and convex towards
the end, the edges soft, with about fifty lamellæ, the unguis oblong
and decurved. Nostrils medial, linear, pervious, nearer the ridge than
the margin. Lower mandible flattened, ascending, nearly straight, a
little curved at the base, the angle long, rather narrow, the dorsal
line very slightly convex, the edges with about fifty lamellæ, the
unguis broadly elliptical.
Head large, compressed. Eyes of moderate size. Neck short and thick.
Body compact, much depressed. Feet very short, placed far back; tarsus
very short, compressed, having anteriorly in its whole length a series
of small scutella, and above the outer toe a few broad scales, the
rest covered with reticular angular scales. Hind toe very small, with
a broad free membrane beneath; anterior toes longer than the tarsus,
connected by reticulated membranes, having a sinus on their free
margins, the inner with a narrow, lobed, marginal membrane, the outer
with a thickened edge, the third and fourth about equal and longest,
all covered above with numerous narrow scutella. Claws small, slightly
arched, compressed, obtuse, that of first toe very small, of third
largest, and with an inner thin edge.
Plumage dense, soft and blended; feathers on the fore part of the
head and cheeks very small and rounded, on the upper and hind parts,
linear and elongated, as they also are on the lateral and hind parts
of the upper neck, so that when raised they give the head a very tumid
appearance, which is the more marked that the feathers of the neck
beneath are short. Wings small, decurved, pointed; the outer primaries
pointed, the first generally longest, the second slightly shorter,
in some specimens a little longer, the rest rapidly graduated; the
secondaries incurved, obliquely rounded, the inner much elongated. Tail
short, graduated, of sixteen feathers.
Bill black. Iris bright yellow. Feet orange-yellow, webs dusky, claws
black. Head and upper part of neck deep green, changing to purple in
certain lights. Back, posterior scapulars, inner secondaries, edge of
wing, alula, primary coverts, primary quills, and four or five outer
secondaries, black,—the back being darker and glossy, the wing-feathers
tinged with brown. An elliptical patch between the base of the bill and
the eye, lower part of neck all round, sides of the body anteriorly,
the lower parts generally, the scapulars, excepting their margins,
which are black, a large patch on the wing, including many of the
smaller coverts, some of the secondary coverts, and six or seven of the
secondary quills, pure white. The basal part of the secondary coverts
black. Axillar feathers and lower wing-coverts dusky; the elongated
feathers of the sides have the inner, some of them also their outer
margins black, that colour in those of the innermost covering the whole
inner web. The feathers on the legs, and along the sides of the rump
dusky. The tail brownish-grey.
Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of wings 17-1/2, to end of
claws 20-1/4; extent of wings 31-1/2; bill along the ridge 1-5/8,
from the angles 2, along the edge of lower mandible 2-3/12; wing from
flexure 9; tail 4-1/2; tarsus 1-5/12; hind toe (6-1/2)/12, its claw
(2-1/2)/12; second toe 1-9/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12; third toe 2-1/4,
its claw (4-1/2)/12; fourth toe 2-4/12, its claw 3/12. Weight 2 lb.
4-1/2 oz.
Of another male, length to end of tail 19-1/2, to end of claws 21-1/2,
to end of wings 17; extent of wings 31.
Adult Female. Plate CCCXLII. Fig. 2.
The female is much smaller. Bill dusky, a portion at the end, not
however including the unguis, dull yellowish-orange. Eyes and feet as
in the male. Head and upper part of neck dull reddish-brown. Lower part
of neck and the sides of the body brownish-grey, the feathers margined
with pale grey. Upper parts greyish-brown, much darker behind; tail
brownish-grey; wings brownish-black, seven of their coverts, excepting
at the bases, white, the smaller coverts lighter and tipped with
greyish-white; the legs and sides of the rump greyish-brown.
Length to end of tail 16 inches, to end of wings 15, to end of claws
17-1/4; extent of wings 28; wing from flexure 8-1/2; tail 3-1/4; bill
along the ridge 1-3/8, from the angles 1-3/4, along the lower mandible
1-(5-1/2)/8; tarsus 1-(3-1/2)/8; hind toe 5/8, its claw (1-1/2)/8;
middle toe 2-(2-1/2)/8, its claw 3/8; outer toe 1/8 longer; inner toe
and claw 2. Weight 1-3/4 lb.
An adult male examined. The tongue is 2 inches long, fleshy, papillate
at the base, with two series of lateral filaments, a deep median
groove, and a thin semicircular tip, as in many other ducks. The
œsophagus is 10 inches long, of moderate diameter, dilated towards
the lower part of the neck to 1/2 inch; its walls very thick; the
proventriculus with numerous oblong glandules. The stomach is a large
and powerful gizzard, of a roundish form, 2 inches long, and of equal
diameter, its lateral muscles very large, and upwards of half an inch
thick; its epithelium rugous. The intestine is 6 feet 1 inch long, its
diameter varying from 5 twelfths to 4 twelfths; the rectum 4 inches
long; the cœca 3-1/4 inches in length, their greatest diameter 2-1/2
twelfths. The contents of the stomach a soft mass of a reddish colour,
in which are distinguished small mussels and remains of fishes, with
some vegetable fibres.
The trachea is 9 inches long, for 4 inches narrow, its diameter
being about 4-1/2 twelfths, and its rings, which are 60 in number,
cartilaginous; it then forms an ovato-oblong expansion, which, when
drawn out, is 2-1/2 inches long, and 1 inch in breadth, and is formed
of ossified and flattened rings, narrower behind, placed obliquely,
and about 30 in number; it then contracts to a diameter of 5 twelfths,
and has 16 free rings, but below this the rings, 25 in number, become
united or blended, and gradually expand into a vast irregular cavity,
having a broad bony frame in front, membranous behind, and separating
to the distance of 1 inch, the bronchi, which are large, the right one
much larger and longer than the left, and composed of 20 rings, all of
which are almost complete and cartilaginous, excepting the two upper.
The rings of the left bronchus, also about 20, are more incomplete.
Now for conjectures. These enormous dilatations are intended for
strengthening the voice. But the voice is not strong in this duck.
Well, then, they are receptacles of air, to enable the bird to keep
longer under water. But the bird does not keep longer under water
than many other ducks, and besides, the female, which has no such
dilatations, dives as well as the male.
One use at least is this. A comparison of the windpipe of an American
Golden-eye, with those of two Scotch ones, shews that the so-called
_Clangula Americana_, is in this respect precisely similar to the
_Clangula chrysophthalma_. Their digestive organs are also the same;
and American skins compared with European skins, exhibit no differences
of the slightest importance. Some individuals, especially males,
have much larger bills than others, but this happens in the birds of
both countries, and the Golden-eye is not singular in this respect.
_Clangula Americana_, therefore, requires a better elucidation than the
appendage of a “Nob,” before it can be admitted as a species.
RUDDY DUCK.
_FULIGULA RUBIDA_, BONAP.
PLATE CCCXLIII. MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG.
Look at this plate, Reader, and tell me whether you ever saw a greater
difference between young and old, or between male and female, than is
apparent here. You see a fine old male in the livery of the breeding
season, put on as it were expressly for the purpose of pleasing the
female for a while. The female has never been figured before; nor, I
believe, has any representation been given of the young in the autumnal
plumage. Besides these, you have here the young male at the approach of
spring.
The Ruddy Duck is by no means a rare species in the United States;
indeed I consider it quite abundant, especially during the winter
months, in the Peninsula of Florida, where I have shot upwards of forty
in one morning. In our Eastern Districts they make their appearance
early in September, and are then plentiful from Eastport to Boston, in
the markets of which, as well as of New York, I have seen them. On the
Ohio and Mississippi they arrive about the same period; and I have no
doubt that they will be found breeding in all our Western Territories,
as soon as attention is paid to such matters as the searching for nests
with the view of promoting science, or of domesticating birds which
might prove advantageous to the husbandman.
My friend Dr BACHMAN informs me that this species is becoming more
abundant every winter in South Carolina. In the month of February he
has seen a space of the extent of an acre covered with it. Yet he has
never found one in full summer plumage in that country. It is equally
fond of salt or brackish and of fresh waters; and thus we find it
at times on our sea-coast, bays, and mouths of rivers, as well as on
lakes and even small ponds in the interior, or on our salt marshes,
provided they are not surrounded by trees, as it cannot rise high in
the air unless in an open space of considerable extent. At the time of
their arrival, they are seen in small flocks, more than from seven to
ten being seldom found together, until they reach the Southern States,
where they congregate in great flocks. When they leave their northern
breeding-grounds, some proceed along the coast, but a greater number
along our numerous rivers.
The flight of the Ruddy Duck is rapid, with a whirring sound,
occasioned by the concave form of the wings and their somewhat broad
ends, the whistling sound produced by other species having more pointed
and stiffer quills, not being heard in this, or only in a very slight
degree. They rise from the water, with considerable difficulty, being
obliged to assist themselves with their broad webbed feet, and to
run as it were on the surface for several yards, always against the
breeze, when it blows smartly. The strength of the muscles of their
feet enables them to spring from the ground at once. When they are
fairly on wing, they fly in the same manner as most of our travelling
ducks, sustain themselves with ease, and are apt to remove to great
distances. They alight on the water more heavily than most others that
are not equally flattened and short in the body; but they move on that
element with ease and grace, swimming deeply immersed, and procuring
their food altogether by diving, at which they are extremely expert.
They are generally disposed to keep under the lee of shores on all
occasions. When swimming without suspicion of danger, they carry the
tail elevated almost perpendicularly, and float lightly on the water;
but as soon as they are alarmed, they immediately sink deeper, in the
manner of the Anhinga, Grebes, and Cormorants, sometimes going out of
sight without leaving a ripple on the water. On small ponds they often
dive and conceal themselves among the grass along the shore, rather
than attempt to escape by flying, to accomplish which with certainty
they would require a large open space. I saw this very often when on
the plantation of General HERNANDEZ in East Florida. If wounded, they
dived and hid in the grass; but, as the ponds there were shallow, and
had the bottom rather firm, I often waded out and pursued them. Then
it was that I saw the curious manner in which they used their tail
when swimming, employing it now as a rudder, and again with a vertical
motion; the wings being also slightly opened, and brought into action
as well as the feet. They are by no means shy, for I have often waded
toward them with my gun until very near them, when I cared not about
shooting them, but was on the look-out for a new Rail or Gallinule,
along the margin of the ponds. They are often seen in company with
Teals, Scaup Ducks, Gadwalls, Shovellers, and Mallards, with all of
which they seem to agree.