456 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



In Spitzbergen, Iceland, and along the grassy shores of 

 Hudson's Bay contiguous to the sea, they make their nests 

 about the middle of June, lining the interior with the down 

 from their breasts, which is equally soft and elastic with that 

 produced by the Eider. The eggs are about 5, of a pale 

 greenish-grey, and with both ends rather obtuse, they are 

 about 20 lines long and 18 wide.* 



These birds abound in Greenland, Lapland, Russia and 

 Kamtschatka, are seen about St. Petersburgh ; and from 

 October to April many flocks pass the winter in the Ork- 

 neys. They are only accidental visiters on the great lakes 

 in Germany and along the borders of the Baltic ; and 

 are often seen, but never in flocks, upon the maritime coasts 

 of Holland. The flesh of the old birds is but little esteem- 

 ed, yet that of the young is pretty good food. 



The length of this species, varying with the unequal length of the 

 long tail feathers, is rated at from 22 to 26 inches. One which I 

 have just measured in winter plumage, gives 24 inches ; the bill 

 from above, 1 inch ; the tarsus 1 inch 3 lines. The bill black, crossed 

 near the extremity by a broad band of dull orange. Irids dark red. 

 Cheeks and frontlet, dull dusky drab (sometimes nearly altogether 

 white.) the same color passing over the eye, and joining a large patch 

 of blackish-brown on the side of the neck ; throat, and rest of the 

 neck white. The crown tufted, and of a pale cream color (some- 

 times wholly white.) Lower part of the neck, breast, back and 

 wings, black. Scapulars and tertiaries, pale bluish or pearly Avliite, 

 long, pointed, and falling gracefully over the wings ; the white of 

 the neck descends an inch or two over the back : the white of the 

 belly spreads over the sides, and nearly meets at the rump. Secon- 

 daries bright brown forming a bar or imperfect speculum over the 

 wing. Primaries, rump and tail coverts brownish-black. The 4 

 middle tail feathers black, the central pair 4 to G inches longer than 

 the adjoining ones, the rest of the tail tinged internally with ash. 

 Legs and feet, dusky grey. 



In the old female the tail is short, and its feathers edged with 



* Richardson's North. Zool. ii. p. 460. 



