AMERICAN EIDER 293 



adult male American Scoter may be distinguished from any 

 other duck by its uniform black plumage, and its habit of 

 diving. The Black Duck, which in winter may be found 

 with the Scoters, does not dive ; moreover, the Black Duck 

 may generally be distinguished by the whitish under sur- 

 face of its wings. An adult male American Scoter has an 

 orange spot at the base of its black bill. (See under Surf 

 Scoter, p. 291.) 



Note. — The King Eider {Somateria spectabilis) is a rare winter 

 visitant to the coast of New England, occasionally common off the 

 coast of Maine. The adult male may be distinguished from the fol- 

 lowing species by the top of the head, which is a delicate lavender 

 instead of black, and by the cheeks, which are sea-green instead of 

 white. 



American Eider. Somateria dresseri 



23.00 



Ad.$. — Top of head black, divided by a white stripe ; rest of 

 head white, tinged on the sides and back with green ; neck, upper 

 breast, and most of back ichite ; middle of lower back, wings, tail, 

 and belly black; bill, legs, and feet olive-green. Ad. 9 ^^^ 

 Im. — Top of head blackish; rest of plumage dark buffy-brown, 

 lightest on throat and neck, barred everywhere with black. 



Nest, on the ground, often under a bush. Eggs, olive-green. 



The American Eider is a common winter visitant off the 

 coast of New England, arriving in October, and returning in 

 April. It is rare south of Massachusetts. It is a rare sum- 

 mer resident on some of the rocky islands of the Maine 

 coast, from Isle au Haut eastward. Great flocks of eiders 

 collect in the shoal water off Cape Cod, Nantucket, and 

 Martha's Vineyard, spending the night at sea, and flying in 

 each morning to some ledge of rocks, where they find the 

 mussels on which they feed. These they obtain by diving 

 through the breakers. The Eider is rarely seen in the inner 

 bays and harbors ; in fact it is known among the fishermen 

 as the " Sea Duck." 



