56 NORTH AMERICAN DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



Winter range. — The Steller eider winters abundantly on the Near 

 Islands and as far north as Unalaska, the Shumagins, and the Kenai 

 Peninsula. The winter range extends south on the Asiatic coast to 

 the Kurile Islands. 



Spring migration. — The northward migration is limited chiefly to 

 May. The first arrivals have been noted at Point Barrow June 6, 1882, 

 June 11, 1883, June 9, 1898. During migration the species is fairly 

 common along the coast of Alaska at Bristol Bay, the mouth of the 

 Yukon, and in Norton Sound, 



Fall nnigration. — The first arrival in the fall has been noted at St. 

 Michael, Alaska, September 21. The southern limit of the winter 

 home is reached about the 1st of November. The latest date at Point 

 Barrow is September IT, and the last migrants leave St. Michael about 

 the middle of October. 



The Steller eider has occurred accidentall}^ at Disco Bay, Greenland, 

 in the fall of 1878; at Godbout, Quebec, February 17, 1898, and also 

 at Point des Monts, Quebec. 



Arctonetta fischeri (Brandt). Spectacled Eider. 



Breeding range. — The spectacled eider has a more restricted range 

 than any other of the family. It breeds north to Point Barrow, 

 Alaska, and thence along the coast to the mouth of the Kuskokwim 

 River. The range extends also along the northern coast of Siberia 

 to the mouth of the Lena, but the species has not as yet been taken 

 breeding on the Asiatic .side. By far the greater number of individuals 

 nest around Norton Sound. 



Winter range. — Winter records are almost wanting; the species has 

 been noted at this season on the Near Islands and Unalaska, and it is 

 probable that the Aleutian chain constitutes the principal winter home. 



Spring migration. — The breeding grounds are reached in Ma}^, the 

 earliest record at Norton Sound being May 6, and the usual date a 

 •week or more later. The first have been noted at Point Barrow May 

 29, 1882, May 26, 1883, and May 31, 1898. 



Fresh eggs have been found at St. Michael June 10, and newly 

 hatched young July 23; downy 3'oung were secured at Point Barrow 

 July 28,1898. 



Fall migration. — The latest records at Point Barrow are August 24, 

 1883, and September 17, 1897. During this latter month all the 

 breeding grounds from Norton Sound northward are deserted. 



Somateria mollissima borealis (C. L. Brehm). Northern Eider. 



Breeding range. — This eider breeds in northeastern North America, 

 south to Hamilton Inlet, Labrador, about latitude 51°; west to 

 Southampton Island and Cape FuUerton, latitude 03°; north on the 

 east coast of Greenland to Shannon Island, latitude 75°, and on the 



