File:Birds that hunt and are hunted - life histories of one hundred and seventy birds of prey, game birds and water-fowls (1902) (14563410910).jpg

Identifier: birdsthathuntare00bla (find matches)
Title: Birds that hunt and are hunted : life histories of one hundred and seventy birds of prey, game birds and water-fowls
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Blanchan, Neltje, 1865-1918
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: New York : Doubleday, Page & Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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crowd became involved in the dispute;tomahawks were brandished and a free fight followed, accordingto Allan Brooks, in which a majority of the warriors were killedwithout settling the question—an excellent story for the PeaceSocieties. Pale Faces, backed by scientific investigation, take sides withthe wing whistler party. The golden-eye, in spite of its short,heavy body and small wings, covers immense distances, ninetymiles an hour being the speed Audubon credited it with, and a halfmile the distance at which he distinctly heard the whistle. Al-though the drake, at least, has every requisite in his vocal organsfor making a noise, and the specific name, claiigula, entitles himto a voice, it has never been lifted in our presence. But thenthis duck has been very little studied in its nesting grounds,where, if ever, a bird gives utterance to any pent-up emotion.In the desolate fur countries at the far north of Europe andAmerica, the golden-eye duck makes a nest in a stump or hollow ! 22
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Sea and Bay Ducks tree, close by the lake or riverside, and covers over her large clutchof pale bluish eggs with down from her breast. As usual in theduci< tribe, the dral<e avoids all nursery duties by joining a clubof males that disport themselves at leisure during the summermoult. Wonderfully expert swimmers and divers, their fully webbedfeet, that make these accomplishments possible, so interfere withtheir progress on land that they visit it only rarely. One can dis-tinctly hear the broad webs slap the ground, as, with wings partlydistended to help keep a balance, the golden-eye labors awk-wardly on by jerks to reach the water, where not even the loonis more at home. As the golden-eyes flesh is rank and fishy andtough, owing to the small proportion of vegetable food it eats,and the large amount of exercise it must take to secure activeprey, there can be no excuse for the sportsmans hunting it; and,happily, there is apt to be scant reward for his efforts. Exceedingly shy and

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