ANATIN.E — THE DUCKS — ARCTONETTA. 



69 



1872, this species was very abundant at Unalashka, but that in the same month of 

 the next year not a single one was seen. 



An egg, said to be of this species, obtained in Alaska by ]\Ir. Dall (Xo. 15571), is, 

 like that of the Eider, of a pale grayish-green color, measuring 2.20 by l.GO inches. 

 Its identification may, however, be considered as very doubtful. 



Genus ARCTONETTA, Gray. 



Lamjnonctta, Brandt, Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. 6th Ser. Sc. Nat. VI. 1849 (published 1847 ?), 5 



(type, L. Fischcri, Braxdt) ; nee Lamiironcssa, AVagl. 1832. 

 Arctonclta, Gray, P. Z. S. 1855, 212 (same type). 



Char. Bill shorter than the head, the basal portion densely covered with soft velvety feathers 

 on the sides quite to the nostrils, and on the culmen to their anterior end ; outhne of the feather- 

 ing extending backward and downward in a straight line from the point on the culmen to the 



^^t  v.^^^'^'-'^ff 75 '^^-n*^^ .^-^ -I-^S 



■^■H, 



filCHCLE. 



A. Fischeri. 



rictus ; culmen descending in a straight line to the nail, which is broad and slightly arched ; max- 

 illary tomium very straight and regular, the lamellse very slightly exposed' along the middle portion. 

 Feathers of the lores and forehead dense, much stiffened, pointing directly outward ; those of the 

 occiput bristle-like, lengthened, and pendulous ; orbital region covered by a subcircular or subquad- 

 rate mat of very soft, short, dense, and satin-like feathers ; below this a longitudinal stripe of 

 short, stiff, bristly feathers directed backward. Tertials falcate 

 feathers. 



Tail short, graduated, of fourteen 



Arctonetta Fischeri. 



FISCHER'S EIDER; SPECTACLED EIDER. 



Fidigula [Lampronctta) Fischeri, Brandt, Jlem. Acad. St. Petersb. VI. 1849, 6, 10, 14, pi. 1, figs. 



1-4. 

 Lcanprondta Fischeri, Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 803; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 599. — Elliot, 



Illiistr. B. Am. V. pL 47. — Eidgw. Xom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 626. 

 Arctonetta Fischcri, Blakist. Ibis, 1863, 150. 

 Somateria Fischeri, Coues, Key, 1872, 292 ; Check List, 1873, no. 512 ; 2d ed. 1882, no. 732 ; Bii'ds 



N. W. 1874, 580. 



