GARROT, Clan aura, a genus of the oceanic section of ducks (q.v.), having the bill shorter than the head. One species, the GOLDEN-EYE (C. vulgaris or C. ehrysophthal mus), a bird not quite so large as a widgeon, is a common winter visitant in Britain, in small flocks, most frequently in severe weather, not only in estuaries, but on the lakes and rivers of inland parts of the country; as it does on those of all the cen tral and southern parts of Europe, and equally on those of the temperate parts of Asia and North America. It breeds in arctic and subarctic regions, preferring wooded dis tricts, and forins its nest either on the ground, in the crevice of a rock. or the hole of a tree. The parent birds are said to transport their young from the nest to the water, holding them under the bill, and supported by the neck. The Lapps take advantage of the predilection of the golden eyes tor making their nests in holes, by setting up boxes -for them, and then robbing them of their eggs.—Another British species is the HARLE
gull: G.. or IlAnr,EgurN Dtmc (C. histrionica), but it is only a rare winter visitant. Like the golden-eye, it is a native of the northern mats of the world generally. The male is curiously streaked and marked with white. The BuFFEL-nRADED G., or BI:FFEL HEADED DUCK (C. albeola), is of extremely rare occurrence in Britain, but is very com mon in North America, where it is often called the spirit duck, a name which is said to have been bestowed in allusion to its power of eluding observation by diving. It is rather smaller than the golden-eye and harlequin garrot. The flesh of the parrots is eaten, but not very highly esteemed. •